u/fleemfleemfleemfleem

Species: Dog

Age: 15

Sex/Neuter status: Female/Spayed

Breed: Boston Terrier/Shih Tzu

Body weight: 24 lbs

History: IMHA 2021, Lick Granuloma, Spindle cell tumor over right clavicular region, age-related mitral valve disease

Vet did an aspiration biopsy of a 2x4cm mass on my dog's right clavicular region. The cytology indicated that it is a spindle cell tumor, and the vet recommended I have the mass surgically excised by a board certified veterinary surgeon.

At the surgical consult the surgeon suggested that he thought that the risks of surgery were about equal to the risks of leaving it alone and monitoring it for growth. If it grew he would want to remove it, but he didn't think that the risks of anesthesia and discomfort in recovery were really worth it right now. He said that the tumor's features (soft, motile) made him not think it was urgent to remove. He said he would remove it if I decided to go ahead.

I also went ahead with a cardiology exam/ultrasound because of a heart murmur and she was cleared for anesthesia

The vet (and cardiologist) did not seem happy with the surgeon's answer and seem to want me to seek a second opinion from another surgeon.

I'm now in the position of choosing between following the surgeon's advice to monitor with calipers and come back if it grows, or the primary care vet who wants it excised. I'm trying to do the best thing for my dog, which to me means maximizing both quantity and quality of life. I don't necessarily want to make her go through a surgery/recovery if it will degrade her quality of life with dubious impact on quantity.

Whether the tumor is malignant seems to be only answerable by doing pathology after the extraction of the tumor.

A few years ago during a tornado warning my (ex) girlfriend insisted that we wait in a closet for the storm to end and then closed the door. The knob of the closet only turned from outside. I eventually found a screwdriver in the closet and took the knob off, and we were able to get out.

If it came down to it, could we have escaped by punching through the walls?

Let's assume that I figure out where the studs are to avoid them.

There are certain simple phrases associated with a beginning Spanish class for English speakers, so much so that it's a become bit of a joke.

I wondering what the phrases heavily associated with learning English are.