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Advice on lump on dog's face (2nd opinion needed)

Noddy

My 4 year old dog has a small pinkish bump under her chin (< 1/2" round, photo attached), showed up about a month ago. During her annual check-up her vet eye-balled it and said he'd have his assistant contact me with a quote to surgically remove it. The quote came in at $1200!!! I was floored, still am. She was spayed and had laser removal of dew claw as a pup...much more invasive, for just $200 (at a different vet). I asked for a secondary quote for needle biopsy, which came in at $250...with a caution that it was 50/50 odds on whether sample would actually tell them anything. I'm taking her to another vet for a second opinion, those fees seem extreme to me. Plus I don't like the apparent rush to surgery without any interim step(s). Any thoughts are appreciated.

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•   clive ansell says:

  March 27th, 2009 at 07:42 AM

  As it is such a small mass, I would usually advise complete removal and histological analysis. if she requires anaesthesia for a biopsy or a needle aspirate to be taken, it may as well be removed instead.

  There are many different types of mass or tumour it could be, it is not possible to tell from the photograph. Most turn out to be benign and harmless, but a few are malignant and for that reason I tend to advise complete excision as soon as possible.

  I am UK based so cannot comment on US fees. Here in the UK prices will vary greatly from practice to practice but a ballpary figure would be £250-£350 plus another £50 or so for analysis. Go and get other estimates, but I would advise the mass is removed

   

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•   Jamie Gold says:

  March 27th, 2009 at 02:55 PM

  I think those prices are ridiculous and think you should go somewhere else. A growth removal, even including all the stops, bloodwork, anesthesia, growth removal, biopsy, and any meds to go home with should not be that much money. I don't know where you live, but in Cleveland, Ohio, I would not pay that much if it was my own dog. I would go and get estimates everywhere else and see who is inflatting prices and who isn't. Good luck!

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• User suggests:

  September 19th, 2009 at 09:05 PM

  Did you find out what this bump is? My dog has an extremely similar lump below the pad on his left leg.

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