seeking info about lumps/tumours in older buns who had bunny syphilis when very young

My 10 yo mini lop has developed a large (tea biscuit size) lump on his hip. He had bunny syphilis when he was about 2 yo, had been neutered just at sexual maturity and was never sexually active. Vet here said she read something about tumours in older buns who had had this when young. I am trying to decide if surgery to remove the lump/tumour is feasible. He was very healthy and active up until the lump and stopped abscess drain as it was not an abscess. He has had good and bad days for the last month. The lump came up very quickly and stayed the same for several weeks and then grew again and seems to be developing away from his hip so the part attached is smaller than the whole (read someone describe a tumour as having a stalk, it is almost as if this is developing one). On vets suggestion I thought it is cancer but am having second thoughts or second guessing or in denial stage of grief but wondering if it may NOT be cancer. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thank you

Has the vet sent a sample for cytology testing to confirm the diagnosis? I think I would like to know what the lump actually is, before deciding on surgery.

Omi said:

Has the vet sent a sample for cytology testing to confirm the diagnosis? I think I would like to know what the lump actually is, before deciding on surgery.

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Yes, a fine needle aspiration might shed some light on what the lump may be. The Vet can view the aspirate under a microscope and the cells seen could indicate if the lump is a tumour of some sort. A FNA should not require a GA, just the use of a local anaesthetic gel.

Sherry Kenwood said:

My 10 yo mini lop has developed a large (tea biscuit size) lump on his hip. He had bunny syphilis when he was about 2 yo, had been neutered just at sexual maturity and was never sexually active. Vet here said she read something about tumours in older buns who had had this when young. I am trying to decide if surgery to remove the lump/tumour is feasible. He was very healthy and active up until the lump and stopped abscess drain as it was not an abscess. He has had good and bad days for the last month. The lump came up very quickly and stayed the same for several weeks and then grew again and seems to be developing away from his hip so the part attached is smaller than the whole (read someone describe a tumour as having a stalk, it is almost as if this is developing one). On vets suggestion I thought it is cancer but am having second thoughts or second guessing or in denial stage of grief but wondering if it may NOT be cancer. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thank you

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I'm sorry to hear this

I have had this sort of thing before with rabbits, and it's very difficult to know what to do. My specialist advised that taking any sort of sample from the tumour would involve a GA, as collecting the cells would potentially be painful. It depends on what the lump is, whether it's a cyst or fatty tissue.

10 years old is not too old for a GA, if he's in good health, and if the tumour is on a 'stalk' it may be possible ti snip if off and send it away without the procedure being too invasive. It would require a GA though ...

Good luck x

Thank you for the reply. It's is quite large (trouble loading photo), I can cup it with my hand (tea biscuit size?) on his hip. He is 4 pounds. It is separating from his hip but not enough "to snip". It would still be major surgery? Nine square inch area?3 inches by 3 inches.

I am sorry that the lump is so large. If it were me I would still want to have a sample sent for cytology, so that I could then make an informed decision, together with discussion with my vet, on how to manage it.

If it's any help, I have had fine needle aspiration done of some of my cells without any anaesthetic, local or general. Yes, it does hurt, but not significantly more than say a vaccination. I would feel quite happy to have this done on one of my rabbits with the help of a local anaesthetic, if my vet was happy to do it.

Sending lots of vibes for your rabbit.

Sherry Kenwood said:

Thank you for the reply. It's is quite large (trouble loading photo), I can cup it with my hand (tea biscuit size?) on his hip. He is 4 pounds. It is separating from his hip but not enough "to snip". It would still be major surgery? Nine square inch area?3 inches by 3 inches.

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Ah I'm sorry about this. I have had this with rabbits, where it's not been possible to aspirate a few cells with a needle, but need a bigger section to biopsy.

I wonder if a second opinion might give you a way forward?

Thank you all for your responses!

The vet has 15 years experience.
She did look at a FNA on the first visit and said "the cells were not organized and would need to wait a bit".
The second visit we thought she was excising an abscess.
I'm going tomorrow to hopefully get a FN sample sent away ($180 here) and I don't know how long it will take.
(I initially (when it was implied to be cancer, horrid morning at the vet, 2 emergencies while we were there) wasn't going to spend a great deal of $, seems hard and I've berated myself more than anyone else could for it but I spent more than should have been on a cat with cancer once - had a few more good years but he hated the chemo and loathed the vet, when I ran out of savings I quit and within 6 months the cancer came back in another area and when it came time to put him down the vet couldn't get a vein - the chemo had destroyed all his veins in his limbs. The vet had given him a sedative right away so the trauma was to me and the vet, not the cat, still; beware doing extraordinary measures to "save an animal" 'cause you are not ready to 'let go'.)
I'm giving him metacam 2 times a day although the vet said once (I told her I was doing this) and he is much more active and alert. Before I started the 2x daily he started favouring the foot on the side where the "tumour" is on his hip.
My family has all said "he's 10 years old, don't be silly" but ........, yes, but.
I was told pumpkin was very good and to add a little banana to make it more appealing. The cat likes it, not the bun.
I tried a little non-sweetened applesauce with pomegranate and it was a huge hit. I don't think he's drinking enough.
Thank you very much for following and commenting.
If anyone thinks of something else I would very much appreciate hearing about it.

Yes, decided I need to know what it actually is. Thank you.

Going tomorrow morning to have this done. Thought it already had but no! They charge $180 for a FNA and more for an actual 'snip'. Will keep posting. Thank you for your response!

The vet implied that this might be the case. I will find out tomorrow.
They charge a fortune here (Canada) for any tests and rabbits, which they deem as exotics seem to give them free licence to be overly enthusiastic with charges...
Have specifically asked for a fna tomorrow ($180) and will go from there.
It's only the good responses I've read on this site that have given me any peace of mind and ideas with which to more forward (hate that expression) but what it is.
Thank you.

Pleased to see your update and that your vet is going to try to do an FNA tomorrow. Yes, that sounds expensive (about £92 here I think), but then I don't know how much it would cost here. I presume it covers the cost of the laboratory testing as well.

Sending lots of vibes for a successful FNA tomorrow. Please let us know how it goes.

Sherry Kenwood said:

The vet implied that this might be the case. I will find out tomorrow.
They charge a fortune here (Canada) for any tests and rabbits, which they deem as exotics seem to give them free licence to be overly enthusiastic with charges...
Have specifically asked for a fna tomorrow ($180) and will go from there.
It's only the good responses I've read on this site that have given me any peace of mind and ideas with which to more forward (hate that expression) but what it is.
Thank you.

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Good luck with the FNA tomorrow, I really hope they manage to get some cells that can give you a definitive answer.

You make some very valid points about keeping animals alive, and also the soaring cost of vet's treatment.

I will be thinking of you both x