Archie – 9-year-old Staffy with injured ACL and Malignant Tumour

Archie, a spirited 9-year-old Staffy Cross recently visited us for a procedure on his right back knee. Archie required a CBLO (CORA-Based Leveling Osteotomy) surgery with Dr. Scot to treat a cruciate ligament injury. This is a common condition in active, ageing dogs. His surgery went smoothly, and at his 8-week post-op check-up he was healing well.

It was during this check-up that his owners pointed out a new lump that had presented in the front of Archie’s left ear. Dr. Amanda examined the 1.5cm mass and performed a fine needle aspirate to look at the cells under the microscope. The results revealed the presence of mast cells, confirming a mast cell tumour – a malignant type of tumour commonly occurring in middle aged dogs.

Acting quickly, Dr. Amanda surgically removed the mass the following week. It was then sent to pathology for further testing. The histopathology results confirmed an intramuscular mast cell tumour, and most importantly, it confirmed it had been completely removed with clear margins. Archie has a great prognosis with a high chance of a full recovery, he is content, happy and getting back to his energetic self.

A gentle reminder to all pet owners: please ask your vet to check all new lumps on your pets promptly. Early detection and surgical removal offer your pet the best chance for a full recovery.