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Elsa the boxer dog's leg following surgery at Linnaeus practice Vet4Life

Elsa the boxer dog's leg following surgery at Linnaeus practice Vet4Life

Vets' Fast Action Helps Boxer Beat Cancer

4 years ago
1611 views

Posted
26th May, 2020 15h29

Author
Linnaeus Group


An eagle-eyed owner has praised a fast-acting London vet for helping her young Boxer dog beat cancer and is urging pet owners to regularly check their animals.

Elsa was just two years old when her alert owner Ros Donovan spotted a small, wart-like lump on her back, left leg and was immediately concerned.

A fearful Ros took Elsa straight to Vet4Life, in Shepperton, which is part of Linnaeus, to have the growth examined and then waited anxiously for the results.

Ros explained: “I have always checked Elsa very closely, as I know that Boxers can be prone to tumours developing.

“So, when I found a tiny lump on the inside of her back-left leg, I took her straight to see Will Lever at Vet4Life.

“Will had a look and agreed it needed checking straight away. He acted so fast and did a biopsy on the lump and sent it off to be tested.

“When the results came back saying it was cancer, I was absolutely devastated. She was only two years old and she was so young to have been struck down so soon.”

Vet4Life’s Will continued: “Elsa’s results came back as a Mast Cell Tumour (MCT) which is unfortunately a type of malignant cancer that can spread into the lymph nodes and other areas of the body with the possibility of forming secondary tumours.

“There are certain breeds which are more likely to develop mast cell tumours, of which Boxers are one, but Elsa had been very unlucky developing this type of tumour so early in life.

“Her owner Ros had been very proactive in checking her regularly for any lumps or bumps and this resulted in early detection of the tumour, before it had caused further issues.

“This meant we could operate with a good prospect of curing the cancer so Elsa underwent a lumpectomy to remove the tumour. 

“Elsa woke up well from the procedure and went home to her owners the same day. She came in for regular check-ups and her wound healed well and within a few weeks she was back to her normal self.

“She’s now three years old and has shown no signs of ill-effect from her cancer scare.”

Ros was so relieved and full of praise for the treatment and care Elsa had received at the Shpperton practice.

She added: “Everyone at VetLife were brilliant, especially Will and vet nurse Paige Roberts. They’re life-savers and were so caring and helpful.

“Elsa is gorgeous and has the most wonderful temperament. She’s a very special, little dog and I was worried I might lose her.

“It was an anxious time but thankfully with a happy ending.

“It was a really nasty operation because it was on a very awkward part of the leg and it took a while to heal because it was a huge wound across a large area.

“She’s now made a fabulous recovery and everything seems fine again - in fact, she’s back to sitting up on the settee right next to me watching TV.

“I’d urge all dog owners, particularly those who have boxers, to keep an eye on any lumps or bumps.”

Vet4Life has practices in Teddington, Shepperton and Surbition. For more information, visit www.vet4life.co.uk.


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