[willemE]

Hi guys. Sorry for posting a topic like this as my first, but I've been sick with worry lately. I recently moved to a new area in Connecticut, and went to a new vet for a rabies vaccination and general check up for my 6 yr old Amstaff. Everything seemed fine, according to the doctor, but while he was "checking her over" I felt that he was being extremely rough with the way that he was gripping the underside of my dog and lifting her up from a crouched position on the table. I wanted to say something along the lines of "aren't you being a bit rough?" but held my tongue until it was over.

We recieved the vaccination, I paid the bill and left. I believe it was a couple days later that I noticed she wasn't interested in her food as she usually is. She'll eat a full bowl over the course of a day or two, when usually it's gone about 2 minutes after I put it down (I feed cal nat). This has been going on for about 10 days.

And now the most troubling part for me; there is a small lump on her stomach.. I believe it is one of her ovaries, as it is directly in that area. I would have noticed this if it were present before the vet visit, because she's often laying on her back, and I pet her stomach. I planned to have her spayed this year, as I'm no longer showing or weight pulling her, and never had any intention of breeding, but this has got me sick with worry.

Could anyone offer me some advice on the best way to proceed here? I appreciate any advice I could get and thanks for allowing me to use this forum.

-Will

[TexasRanger]

Is the lump hard or "doughy" feeling? How does she react when you touch her there? Does it move around or just stay in one place? Are any of her glands swollen?

[mightymite]

Could be a number of things. Dogs do get cysts and most of them are benign. Your vet can take a biopsy to determine if it is a cyst. Could also be a reaction to the vaccination. Or it could simply be a bruise. A non-invasive treatment to try temperarily would be to simply ice it. Put an ice cube in a paper towel and place it on the bump for 20 minutes several times a day for a few days and see if the bump goes away or not. Otherwise, it's back to the vet you'll have to go. Perhaps, finding another vet in your area though is a good idea. Whether or not the vet was being too rough, you obviously weren't comfortable with this vet. First and foremost, you need to find a practiiner you feel comfortable with!