Friday, July 6, 2012

UPDATE: What's wrong with this picture? Not a thing...anymore

It's 2:30 pm, and Wynonna and I have just returned home. Long may she reign! The vet removed the "thing" with laser surgery. He is certain it was a hugely inflamed skin fold caused by some sort of infection on that side of her mouth, not a tumor. She is resting comfortably now just outside my office door, waiting for her dinner. Thank you all for your positive thoughts and prayers. They worked!
I took this picture Monday night around 4:30. Wynonna was in the shade of the flowering sage brush and seemed so content,
waiting for me to feed her. A few hours later, I downloaded the photo from my camera
and looked at it on my great big computer monitor and said WTF is that?


The arrow is pointing to "that." I ran outside to look at "that" in person. It was a growth on the side of her mouth, and it did not look good. I tried not to panic. But I also couldn't help but think back to our visit to the vet in February, when he saw a pea-sized dark purple thing in her mouth. He wasn't sure if it was a tumor or a hematoma; given her advanced age, we chose not to examine it further. I asked him how I would know when or if it started to bother her. He said she would stop eating.

So the good news is that Wynonna has not stopped eating. She is behaving as she always does. The really bad news is that the thing I noticed on Monday night is at least five times bigger as I write this Thursday night. I'm not exaggerating. She has been uncharacteristically cooperative and has allowed me to open her mouth and photograph it daily. I have sent those photos to the vet. Don't worry – I won't be sharing them here. We have an appointment at 8:30 this morning. Maybe the vet will be able to remove it. Or maybe not. I tell you this because I am preparing for the worst, as should Wynonna's legion of fans. Ugh. That sounds too dramatic and I hate drama, but I don't know how else to say it. I'll probably be back with an update later today.

53 comments:

  1. Fingers crossed for Wynonna!

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  2. Thinking good thoughts for Wynonna, hoping for the best.

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  3. Oh no. Fingers crossed that everything will be alright and the vet can remove it and she'll be okay. Best wishes Wynonna.

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  4. Good thoughts for a safe trip and something that is easily removable from her mouth (maybe an embedded thorn?).

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  5. Sending love to you and Wynonna! I know from experience that old dogs are prone to mouth tumors so I understand what this could mean.
    Again, love and a LOT of positive thoughts!

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  6. Ohhh not good. I hope it turns out to me No Big Deal. Will be watching for updates of one of my favourite piggies.

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  7. Carson, I'll be thinking of you and Wynonna all day today...

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  8. Good thoughts from the other side of the mountain.

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  9. Keeping our fingers crossed and wishing you and the Porcine Princess the very, very best. Oma Linda and the other cuckoos

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  10. Sending thousands of vibes your way, Carson, and will be waiting for an update when you can

    {{{{{{Carson }}}}}}}}
    {{{{{Wynonna}}}}}}

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  11. Dave Gibbons7/6/12, 7:54 AM

    Wishing her well...

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  12. Wynonna (and you) are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  13. Doesn't look good, but let's all hope for the best. She's such a sweet girl. :-)

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  14. *sigh* Tumours don't grow that fast, do they...? Anxiously awaiting news.

    Carolynn

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  15. Oh dear...you can only wonder if this rapid swelling only has to do with fluid building up and can be punctured. ? . Wynonnas fan club in the Aegean Sea, Greece, is hoping for an update really soon.

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  16. Okay this may help you right now, I hope. One of my horses has melanomas. They exploded in size almost overnight and the vet determined it had become infected. We put him on antibiotics, the area burst open and drained, and the melanomas have reduced some in size. (photos are in recent postings in my blog).

    Being so close to her mouth, this may simply have gotten infected with her eating. Hopefully, cleaning it up, getting some antibiotic may reduce it back to what it was.

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  17. Oh Wynonna! I was thinking maybe something bit/stung her face? I am sending good thoughts your way. Hugs to Wynonna.

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  18. Carol in N. Colorado7/6/12, 8:43 AM

    Hope all goes well with Miss Wynonna. Waiting patiently for an update.

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  19. Michelle from BC7/6/12, 9:23 AM

    Hang in there Wynonna, we're rooting for you.

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  20. Sending good thoughts for the best news for you and Wynonna.

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  21. May it be nothing more then a benign growth..
    Tara

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  22. OH MY! I hope all goes well at the docs, and he can remove the growth....My prayers are with the both of you.....I will keep checking for an update....

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  23. i'm sending up a prayer for
    Wynonna. I know she'll be okay.
    Best love, Sandra

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  24. Hope everything works out for Wy....Fingers crossed...

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  25. I sure hope this turns out to be some kind of benign tooth abscess or ingrown whisker. Good luck, you're in my thoughts.

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  26. Sigh. It's always something. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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  27. keeping you and the family at 7MSN ranch in my thoughts and prayers.
    Jill

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  28. I hope it will be a simple operation and she will be fine. Please keep us posted.

    Betsy

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  29. Thinking good thoughts for Wynonna and you...

    Cappy

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  30. The excellent part of having animals as companions is the joy & fun they bring to our lives. The down side is when we have to sometimes make difficult decisions on their behalf, for their best interests and quality of life. Saying a little prayer on your (and Wynonna's) behalf right now.

    — Bonz

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  31. Where is everybody?

    Any updates? Hope Wynona feels better.

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  32. well given the long time you've been away, I can only hope that the vet was able to perform surgery on Winona or somehow make her more comfortable. I am thinking about you both and wishing for the best outcome.

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  33. YEAH! glad she is OK...maybe she should wash her face better before bedtime =o)

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  34. OMG, Queen Wynonna reigns supreme !!
    I was so scared for you and W, Carson........wow, isn't laser surgery amazing????????????
    YAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  35. Carol in N. Colorado7/6/12, 3:24 PM

    Wonderful news that The Princess is doing well. Glad the vet was able to remove the growth.

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  36. Did Wynona ask for some laser treatment on her tiny wrinkles?
    SO HAPPY!

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  37. Oh, phew! That's good news. Hey, if you have a chance, you should read "Enslaved by Ducks"...it's hilarious...about a husband and wife with umpteen birds, ducks, geese, rabbits, and even turkeys! That's when you have some free time (HA!)

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  38. Glad they could laser it and I hope she heals quickly. Enjoy the relief I know you're feeling.

    Feel better, Wynonna. Hope you get some cold watermelon for your lip boo-boo.

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  39. Extra portion at supper time...Glad it all worked out....

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  40. That's my girl! So happy that she is okay and is feeling her old self. That's a relief I was really worried about her. Give her a hug for me.

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  41. YAY! I was hopeful that since it grew so quickly that it was some sort of treatable infected area :) many prayers of thanks... and thank you for keeping her loyal subjects informed!!!

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  42. Phew! Great news!
    Thanks for the update!

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  43. Big sigh of relief here. Our animals are like our kids-so we worry. Extra helping of dinner for our princess tonight...right? :)

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  44. So glad it is was good news!!

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  45. LONG LIVE WYNONA!!! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!!

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  46. It's evening and I just signed on. I'm so glad everything is ok. Wynonna is such a sweetheart, such a gentle soul and you take such good care of her. Wishing you a wonderful weekend with your 7MSN family.

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  47. Estella from Co.7/6/12, 11:04 PM

    Thank you Lord....may Wynonna reign for a long, long, long time. Hugs

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  48. Jenny in MN, now in AZ7/7/12, 6:06 AM

    Whew! I was worried about you both. Glad to hear the great news.

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  49. So glad to hear the update! And you make it sound like the physical act of getting her to the vet is a piece of cake (I cannot imagine that this is the case).

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  50. What a relief! So glad that the grande dame is back in her favorite spot with no more drama. I hope you're all having a relaxing weekend.

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  51. Somehow I missed this post. I've been so worried. Well, I guess that's one way to get some attention. Better post something about the chickens before they catch on and do something scary.

    So glad Wynonna is feeling better and it was easily remedied. Please tell her I said hello and give her an extra scratch behind her ears for me.

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  52. I am behind on my blog reading...So very glad you received good news!

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  53. Just catching up. Thank gawd she is okay.

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