Elderly dogs often get lumps and bumps on or underneath their skin and I have written before in my articles about getting them checked as early as possible in case they require surgery.

Such was the case when I saw Plum, a 13-year-old Labrador. I have actually known Plum for many years in a social rather than work capacity – she is the much loved pet of my great friends.

Plum had always been a very healthy dog but recently a few lumps had started to appear, most were fatty but one on the side of her chest worried me so I took a ‘fine needle aspirate’ – a sample taken with a needle and examined with a microscope. The results came back as a cancerous tumour called a ‘mast cell tumour’ which we definitely needed to remove.

Sadly in the two weeks between taking the sample and the time of Plum’s operation her general health deteriorated severely.

She became withdrawn from the family, uninterested in walks and then increasingly off her food.

Before we made any dramatic decisions I felt we needed more information about what was making her poorly so I admitted her to the surgery to take blood samples and x-rays. I will let you know next week what these samples showed and what has happened to Plum.

* Alice Moore is a vet at The Southfield Veterinary Centre, South Walks, Dorchester. Tel: 01305 262913. The surgery is open for consultations between 8am and 6.30pm. Please contact the surgery if you have any questions about this week’s article or other veterinary matters.