Possible cancer

Mr Wilson

Member
My beardy Mr Wilson broke his jaw about 2 and a half years ago. It did heal but we have had periodic complications ever since. his lower jaw does not align properly on one side. Because of this I mostly gave him horn worms because he loved them and it was easy for him to eat. about 5 months ago I was worried about his teeth and decided to try roaches for a while. after a couple weeks of roaches I noticed some infection in his mouth and thought the roaches must have been too hard for him. So I took him to the vet and we started on cipero. it seemed to almost clear it up except one small spot. So we continued. Then I noticed on the side that had the break his gum had began to swell. I thought that maybe he reinjured the jaw somehow because when he first hurt it it swelled in that area and eventually released a blood clot. The vet was able to clear it and it appeared to heal. However this tim e the swell of that gum does not go away and hasnot responded to antiinflamitory meds. more recently he has developed a lump that seems to originate from the area of the break that can be felth through the beard. That lump is growing and it is causeing his tounge to be pushed aside, and he doesnt eat. I was feeding him by syring. On our most recent visit to the vet yesterday she has now gone back to the belief Wilson has cancer. Mr Wilson is my best friend and I am heartbroken. My vet said it has nothing to do with the break and these things happen. I now am tube feeding him. he also still has the infection spot on the otherside. My vet is telling me that is a secondary infection caused by the cancer. At one point the vet did a culture and it came up with nothing. So we are now giving him injections for the infection and tramadol to see if the swollen gum reacts. He is only about 7 years old. The lump seems to have grown more in the last week than in the last couple months.so my questions are. If he does have cancer does it thrive if he thrives? Also because it is in the area of the old break i find it hard to believe it is cancer and not a hematoma or maybe even a cyst? Should I do a byopsy? the vet said it would be too tramatic for him and I kind of agree but again your talking about cutting my dragon so I naturally will say no. I dont know what to do. If I put him through surgery removing the lump rather than just a byopsy would seem to be best however it seems to extend from a swollen gum to a lump in his beard and that much work will be tramatic.. I am heartbroken that he is going through this and I want him to be happy as long as possible. Is this really the begining of the end for him?
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
My beardy Mr Wilson broke his jaw about 2 and a half years ago. It did heal but we have had periodic complications ever since. his lower jaw does not align properly on one side. Because of this I mostly gave him horn worms because he loved them and it was easy for him to eat. about 5 months ago I was worried about his teeth and decided to try roaches for a while. after a couple weeks of roaches I noticed some infection in his mouth and thought the roaches must have been too hard for him. So I took him to the vet and we started on cipero. it seemed to almost clear it up except one small spot. So we continued. Then I noticed on the side that had the break his gum had began to swell. I thought that maybe he reinjured the jaw somehow because when he first hurt it it swelled in that area and eventually released a blood clot. The vet was able to clear it and it appeared to heal. However this tim e the swell of that gum does not go away and hasnot responded to antiinflamitory meds. more recently he has developed a lump that seems to originate from the area of the break that can be felth through the beard. That lump is growing and it is causeing his tounge to be pushed aside, and he doesnt eat. I was feeding him by syring. On our most recent visit to the vet yesterday she has now gone back to the belief Wilson has cancer. Mr Wilson is my best friend and I am heartbroken. My vet said it has nothing to do with the break and these things happen. I now am tube feeding him. he also still has the infection spot on the otherside. My vet is telling me that is a secondary infection caused by the cancer. At one point the vet did a culture and it came up with nothing. So we are now giving him injections for the infection and tramadol to see if the swollen gum reacts. He is only about 7 years old. The lump seems to have grown more in the last week than in the last couple months.so my questions are. If he does have cancer does it thrive if he thrives? Also because it is in the area of the old break i find it hard to believe it is cancer and not a hematoma or maybe even a cyst? Should I do a byopsy? the vet said it would be too tramatic for him and I kind of agree but again your talking about cutting my dragon so I naturally will say no. I dont know what to do. If I put him through surgery removing the lump rather than just a byopsy would seem to be best however it seems to extend from a swollen gum to a lump in his beard and that much work will be tramatic.. I am heartbroken that he is going through this and I want him to be happy as long as possible. Is this really the begining of the end for him?
I am sorry and heartbroken as well- maybe our vet tech mod on here can give some advice on this issues- I wish you all the best for him and you-
@Drache613
 

Mr Wilson

Member
Original Poster
I am sorry and heartbroken as well- maybe our vet tech mod on here can give some advice on this issues- I wish you all the best for him and you-
@Drache613
Thanks for the responce. If anyone is interested in understanding our life together it is best told at his instagram page Mr.Wilson.Dragon thanks again
 

Mr Wilson

Member
Original Poster
20220727_192301.jpg




20220727_192503.jpg


Infection is on his left and the mass is on his right pushing his tongue over

Thanks for the responces
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
It looks like it would irritate him a lot but it's not a large mass so maybe there's a chance that it's not cancer. I would get a second opinion. I think taking a small biopsy would be worth it. You can offer Mr. Wilson a little bit of raw, unpasteurized honey since it has antimicrobial properties and might be soothing to the area. You can get it from actual beekeepers to be sure it's really unpasteurized.
 

Mr Wilson

Member
Original Poster
I will try that thank you. I can get some local honey easily. It is a lot bigger than the picture shows. You can feel the hard lump under his chin extenting beyond the jawline and the whole thing is probably as big as my thumb. I will probably try a second opinion. there are not a lot of choices in my area but i will look more. if they could do it without being too invasive maybe it would be good Thank You
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

I agree, a second opinion would be a good idea at this point. A biopsy while somewhat invasive,
would help determine what is going on. Strange that it cropped up like that though. It is very
possible it is an abscess which happens somewhat frequently.
Raw honey could help with infection so definitely try that out for him. Has he taken any food off
of a dropper for you or have you tried that yet?
Let us know how he is doing. I am so sorry Mr. Wilson is having such a hard time, bless him.

Tracie
 

Hatchi

Member
Beardie name(s)
Alfred AKA The UlanBaby
My beardy Mr Wilson broke his jaw about 2 and a half years ago. It did heal but we have had periodic complications ever since. his lower jaw does not align properly on one side. Because of this I mostly gave him horn worms because he loved them and it was easy for him to eat. about 5 months ago I was worried about his teeth and decided to try roaches for a while. after a couple weeks of roaches I noticed some infection in his mouth and thought the roaches must have been too hard for him. So I took him to the vet and we started on cipero. it seemed to almost clear it up except one small spot. So we continued. Then I noticed on the side that had the break his gum had began to swell. I thought that maybe he reinjured the jaw somehow because when he first hurt it it swelled in that area and eventually released a blood clot. The vet was able to clear it and it appeared to heal. However this tim e the swell of that gum does not go away and hasnot responded to antiinflamitory meds. more recently he has developed a lump that seems to originate from the area of the break that can be felth through the beard. That lump is growing and it is causeing his tounge to be pushed aside, and he doesnt eat. I was feeding him by syring. On our most recent visit to the vet yesterday she has now gone back to the belief Wilson has cancer. Mr Wilson is my best friend and I am heartbroken. My vet said it has nothing to do with the break and these things happen. I now am tube feeding him. he also still has the infection spot on the otherside. My vet is telling me that is a secondary infection caused by the cancer. At one point the vet did a culture and it came up with nothing. So we are now giving him injections for the infection and tramadol to see if the swollen gum reacts. He is only about 7 years old. The lump seems to have grown more in the last week than in the last couple months.so my questions are. If he does have cancer does it thrive if he thrives? Also because it is in the area of the old break i find it hard to believe it is cancer and not a hematoma or maybe even a cyst? Should I do a byopsy? the vet said it would be too tramatic for him and I kind of agree but again your talking about cutting my dragon so I naturally will say no. I dont know what to do. If I put him through surgery removing the lump rather than just a byopsy would seem to be best however it seems to extend from a swollen gum to a lump in his beard and that much work will be tramatic.. I am heartbroken that he is going through this and I want him to be happy as long as possible. Is this really the begining of the end for him?
I would recommend surgery right away! Go for it!
 

xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Zen , Ruby ,Snicker Doodles, Sweet Pea, Sinatra
Poor little guy, this breaks my hearth.
I am rooting for you both.
 

Mr Wilson

Member
Original Poster
Hello,

I agree, a second opinion would be a good idea at this point. A biopsy while somewhat invasive,
would help determine what is going on. Strange that it cropped up like that though. It is very
possible it is an abscess which happens somewhat frequently.
Raw honey could help with infection so definitely try that out for him. Has he taken any food off
of a dropper for you or have you tried that yet?
Let us know how he is doing. I am so sorry Mr. Wilson is having such a hard time, bless him.

Tracie
He was eating reluctantly from a syring for a month. He is a big one. He use to weigh about 1000 grams. So when he stopped eating I didn't force him for about a month. I hoped things would clear up. Everytime he did take a worm it would be only 1 and because it wasnt easy for him he would quit until he eventually would not take anything. he is down to about 880 grams now and I have started tube feeding him this week. That is actually working better because he fights it less and I can give him more. We do a lot together and have been through a lot together. He is hard to read though. As long as we are together he rarely blackbeards. Even when he broke his jaw he showed no sign. I didnt even know for a few weeks. I do remember where it happened and the most I got out of him was a stinkeye. Even now he only shows a blackbeard sometimes when he is asleep and if I give him love it goes away.
 

xp29

BD.org Addict
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Zen , Ruby ,Snicker Doodles, Sweet Pea, Sinatra
They are such special little creatures, i always say "they are not pets, they are family" I'm glad you have a way to keep him fed, hopefully if you can keep good nutrition in him he will thrive. You both will be in my prayers.
 

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