Harley the Maremma's Lump Removal Journey
A Happy Outcome for a Very Good Boy
Harley, our Head Nurse Sarah's beautiful Maremma Sheepdog and much-loved companion, is also a cherished member of our veterinary family. When Sarah discovered a lump on Harley's right hip, she brought him in to see Dr Cedar for an assessment.
Due to the appearance of the mass, Dr Cedar recommended surgical removal followed by laboratory testing to determine exactly what we were dealing with.
Removing the lump required careful planning. Because of its size and the margins needed to ensure all potentially affected tissue was removed, a larger area of skin also had to be excised. To allow the wound to close properly and give Harley the best possible chance of healing, he required a skin flap procedure. This involved carefully raising and rotating nearby healthy skin into the surgical site, creating a secure closure while reducing tension on the wound.
Throughout the procedure, Harley was kept comfortable under a general anaesthetic with intravenous fluids, pain relief, and local anaesthetic nerve blocks for additional pain control. The mass was successfully removed and sent to the laboratory for histopathology, where specialists examined the tissue to determine whether it was cancerous.
The whole team was thrilled when Harley's results came back—the lump was not cancerous. This wonderful news meant Harley could simply focus on recovering, with no further treatment required.
Harley recovered well from his surgery and is doing wonderfully. Because he required a skin flap procedure, the fur over his surgical site is now growing back in a different direction, giving him a delightfully windswept look that we think only adds to his charm—and he's just as handsome as ever!
Harley's story is a great reminder of the importance of having any new lump or bump checked by your veterinarian. While many lumps are harmless, some require treatment, and early assessment gives us the best opportunity to achieve a positive outcome.
We are delighted to see Harley back to enjoying life with his family and grateful to have been part of his journey to recovery.
