Mast Cell Tumors and Your Pug
Posted: Thursday, February 07, 2008
by Ryan Konecky
Has your pug been diagnosed with Mast Cell Tumors (MCTs)? It's a scary
situation to be in for a dog-owner. When Sierra, our 6 year-old fawn
pug, was diagnosed with a possible MCT, we had no idea what to expect.
We only knew that our vet had found CANCER on our dog... the BIG 'C'!!
To make matters worse, we didn't know how serious it was. We had to wait for lab results which wouldn't come back for days! Luckily for us, we were told that Sierra had a "Grade 1" MCT, which meant that we'd need to surgically remove the tumor from her skin. Other than that, her prognosis was excellent.
What is a Mast Cell Tumor?
Mast Cell Tumors, or MCTs, are often defined as "cancerous proliferations of mast cells." A mast cell, also called a mastocyte, is a cell that is found throughout the body that releases chemicals which help the dog respond to inflammation and allergies. These cells are also involved in healing wounds.
A study conducted at the University of Minnesota showed that pugs have a higher chance of getting these tumors but that the majority of the tumors that pugs develop tend to be benign. That's good news to pug-owners worried about this disease!
Check Your Pug Frequently!
We are constantly checking Sierra for any type of mole, lump, or discoloration on her skin. If we find anything out of the ordinary, we call our vet right away. Better to be safe than sorry! We've since had a few other growths removed from her skin. All of them have been benign. We've been fortunate! Make sure to check your pug for anything out of the ordinary and contact your vet when you find something that just doesn't seem right.
To make matters worse, we didn't know how serious it was. We had to wait for lab results which wouldn't come back for days! Luckily for us, we were told that Sierra had a "Grade 1" MCT, which meant that we'd need to surgically remove the tumor from her skin. Other than that, her prognosis was excellent.
Mast Cell Tumors, or MCTs, are often defined as "cancerous proliferations of mast cells." A mast cell, also called a mastocyte, is a cell that is found throughout the body that releases chemicals which help the dog respond to inflammation and allergies. These cells are also involved in healing wounds.
A study conducted at the University of Minnesota showed that pugs have a higher chance of getting these tumors but that the majority of the tumors that pugs develop tend to be benign. That's good news to pug-owners worried about this disease!
Check Your Pug Frequently!
We are constantly checking Sierra for any type of mole, lump, or discoloration on her skin. If we find anything out of the ordinary, we call our vet right away. Better to be safe than sorry! We've since had a few other growths removed from her skin. All of them have been benign. We've been fortunate! Make sure to check your pug for anything out of the ordinary and contact your vet when you find something that just doesn't seem right.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Our 5 year old fawn female is having two mass cell skin tumors removed right now. Check your beloved puggies and get anything suspicious checked out by your vet.Our pug Mookie has been diagnosed with a mast cell tumor on his belly. He is going in tomorrow to have it removed. He is only 1 1/2 years old. Does anyone know what the long term prognosis is for this? Will he be susceptable to further tumors? Will this effect his life span? Thanks for any feedbackIt can be scary. When Sierra went in we were sooooo worried. We were told that she may develop more as she gets older. She hasn't had any for quite a few years. She does get skin tags though.
Your vet will probably send the tissue in to a lab to get it analyzed and you'll know more then. I really wouldn't worry too much although it's hard to do. Chances are it's not serious. Unfortunately, pugs have skin "issues" that need to be dealt with.
Mookie will be in our prayers! Keep us posted.
our pug was diagnosed with the big C word in his mast tumor. I of course went into breakdown mode. He is only 8 and is a huge part of the family. Im not feeling very confident with our vet and am worried sick. Otto is just not himself and is now having muscle spasms in his other leg. His mast is on his front leg and literally just showed up out of the blue. He is going in for surgery on Monday. Please keep your fingers crossed all will go well. I cant afford (emotionally) for anything else in this family to go wrong. I have been reading up and starting to feel a bit comforted by all the positive things I have been reading and hoping I will get to share our success story.I know it's a difficult thing to go through -- especially when you have to wait so long before they do anything! Otto and your family are in our prayers as well. Please keep us posted!
Hi. My 3 y.o. male pug Spud just got diagnosed with the same thing. I'm so angry--he's had this lump on his stomach for over a year and a half. I took him in back then and was told by a different vet that it was a "fatty tumor" and nothing to worry about. This is my first dog, so I took him at his word. My new vet took a needle biopsy and said it's definitely a MST cell tumor. I'm just worried that it's been on him so long that it may have hurt his chances for it to be less serious... Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Thanks... :(
Thank you for all of your personal stories. I have just learned that my 7 year old pug, Daisy has an MCT on her right back end above her hip. She has had this for a while but I was told by a vet that is was only a wort/mole and not to worry about it. However, when I took her in to get her annual checkup/vaccinations, the vet informed me that it may be more serious and to get it looked at and even removed. We took her in yesterday and it was diagnosed as an MCT. She is going in for surgery this week and we are hoping and praying that is is minor and she will continue on with her wonderful life. Just like you, my pug is a part of my family and I just cannot even consider that it may be serious. I will keep you all in my prayers and will update you on my Pug's prognosis. Keep smiling and giving your pugs all the love in the world. They deserve it! :D
I have two pugs sebastion 10 yrs and ty 9 yrs and they both have had mast cells removed. Could there be something causing them, we have rural water and sometimes not the best reports from water cothis could this possibly play a role. I look forward to anyone who might no more than I do. Thank you jason
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