Caninecancer.org.au

Hi everyone,

I own a male Pug and he will be six years old in December. We were given a diagnosis of Multiple Mast Cell Tumours by an oncologist early this year.

Today I discovered that he has another mast cell tumour - a skin tag type on his chest. This will be his 13th tumour in two years. In the past he has had eight tumours removed with surgery and four going away on their own.

I would prefer it if he had laser surgery for his mast cell tumours from now on (in the past he has had them removed with a scalpel). But I have been having trouble finding a surgeon in Victoria who offers laser surgery. And I was wondering if you might know of anyone that you can please recommend to me.

In the USA, laser surgery seems to a popular choice for owners of Pugs with mast cell tumours. This makes sense to me for a number of reasons and I don't understand why it isn't as popular here.

I would be interested to hear what you think.

Hi Maeby
I am sorry that your Pug is having so many mast cell tumours. It is worth having a consultation with a medical oncologist to hear about other options, considering how many he has had (chemotherapy, palladia).

With regards to laser surgery, the majority of mast cell tumours are not removed via laser (including in the US - I worked in New York and Colorado from 2004 to 2011). Although there are a number of supposed benefits associated with laser surgery in animals, objective evidence is lacking.

Being in Victoria, you have a choice of a number of excellent cancer surgeons there (Charles Kuntz, Simon Kudnig and Stewart Ryan), all of who have trained and worked in the US. Hope that this helps!

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Dr Ramesh Sivacolundhu BSc BVMS MVS FANZCVS
Perth Vet Specialist
Selby Street
Osborne Park WA

Hi Dr Ram,

Thanks for your reply.

My Pug has two oncologists (and I have spoken to three other oncologists as well). They told me that chemotherapy and palladia aren't viable options in my Pug's case because he has a diagnosis of multiple mast cell tumours; and chemotherapy, and palladia, won't stop his tumours from recurring.

They said that the only option available to me is surgery. And that's why I'm looking at laser surgery over scalpel surgery: because my Pug is going to need surgery for the rest of his life if he is going to survive.

I have spoken to Charles Kuntz and Simon Ludwig and I have decided that I would prefer it if my vet did the surgery (if scalpel surgery is my only option). This is because my vet lets me have an account that I can pay off. And if I'm going to be paying for surgery for the rest of my Pug's life, I at least want to be able to pay it off. And oncology surgeons would charge heaps more than my vet; and it would mean having to drive into Melbourne (I live in regional Victoria), which is a pain.