The Vet says it is a Histiocytoma :(

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Or a benign growth or so we hope.  I had noticed that last week Rooney was licking, licking, licking his own mouth and upon further examination I saw that smack in the middle of his adorable little bottom lip there was a pink little bump.  I thought that maybe he had pricked himself or gotten stung while outside.  The licking stopped but the bump was getting larger, still small but bigger than it was.  We saw the vet today and she thinks that it is mostly likely benign given his age.  A histiocytoma appears suddenly and often times will go away over time.  She took a photo of it for his file and I am going to watch it to see if it continues to grow.  If it grows then we will have it removed or if it is still there in 2 months time.  This would require Rooney being put under and a tube down his throat - so not without some risk.  I feel comfortable waiting - do you guys think I'm doing the right thing taking the very slight chance it could be cancerous. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think the vet would have you remove it if she was worried. I'd wait.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Monty had something similar a couple of months ago. I've noticed it when it looked like a little pink bump on his chin. Did not seem to bother him at all, but it sure bothered me. Then a couple of weeks later I left for a conference and when I got back, the little pink bump was not so little anymore. It had a size of a quarter, which made me mad at my DH for not noticing anything. How can you NOT see a pink mushroom on your dog's chin...oh well. So I called the vet the next day and after the visit we were told it's some kind of a wart, which means it's caused by some kind of a virus. The virus spreads when dogs sniff each other butts....  So I don't know if it is the same thing your Rooney has or not, since Monty never seem to notice it was there on his chin. Monty's pink bump was all pink, looked a bit like a mushroom (small base and a big head) and truly resembled a wart. We had it removed by the vet, it was pretty quick. Monty got a couple of stitches and a diarrhea from the anesthetics, but that was all.

If your vet knows for sure it is histiocytoma, you can just wait it out since they are supposed to go away on their own.

Good luck, Rooney.

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

This is a bump - it doesn't look like a mushroom but it is good to know that Monty did well.  If it changes the way it looks we'll get right back in!

[F, Calla & Luca]

A wart and a histiocytoma are 2 different things.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Indeed.

[Ellen, Brûlée, and Tira]

Jane, if you are confident with the Vet's decision, try to go with her suggestion to let things ride.  Perhaps it will go away on its own.  But if it is too hard for Rooney, or you, to ignore then you might revisit the surgery option with your vet.  You are so wise about your fellas, I feel sure you will make the best choice! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with F; if your vet doesn't seem to think it needs to be removed, I'd watch and wait.

[Leslie and Halas]

I would trust the vet. I hope it just goes away and you don't have to have the surgery done.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Mattie has had a small one on her back for at least a year with no change. I am sure it will be fine.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'm o.k with waiting - the last thing I would want is for him to have surgery.  I will be watching and hoping that it goes away on it's own!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I would follow the advice of the vet.  I am betting everything will be just fine!  I wish Rooney all the best!  Poor little guy.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Hoping it goes away on its own.. ....