So, Betty has a lump on her face.
Actually, let me start this way: Twenty years ago my family had a dachshund named Max and he had a lump in his crotch. It was a lymphoma and Mom and Dad spent a lot of time and money getting Max the best treatment possible, including a stint of treatment at the Purdue University Animal Hospital. This prolonged his life for many years.
So anyway, Betty has a lump on her face. I took one look at her and freaked the fuck out (on the inside), remembering Max with his tumors and Mom driving all the way from Indianapolis to West Lafayette and wondering how the hell am I going to make that happen from here? We (ahem) set a limit of $1000 on such treatments for the dogs so yikes!
Betty’s lump is under her left eye, so I Googled “lump under dog’s eye” and two sites said it was most likely an abscess. Since no one said, “Hey, there are huuuge lymph nodes under a dog’s eyes” I stopped worrying.
She and I went to the vet’s office today and I swear I saw Betty’s life flash in front of my eyes when the doctor felt her lymph nodes. I literally exhaled with relief when she called the all clear. “I know what you were looking for,” I told the vet.
I am so glad…Betty does have an abscess, but hopefully two weeks of antibiotics will cure it as well as cure the death breath she has going right now.