Angell Surgeon Removes 21-Pound Tumor from Dog
Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Labrador Completes Successful Recovery Following Life-Saving Surgery; Reunites with Veterinarians

A 13-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever is now fully recovered after an Angell surgeon removed a 21-pound tumor from the canine earlier this year. Warren has since spent the past five months enjoying his lightened frame following the lifesaving surgery.

“Warren had the largest external tumor that I have personally seen in my 35 years as a veterinary surgeon,” said Dr. Mike Pavletic, Director of Surgical Services at Angell Animal Medical Center. “The tumor had slowly grown to one sixth of Warren’s body weight making it difficult for him to walk and making his breathing increasingly labored. While the tumor required surgery, there were many life-threatening factors to consider as well including Warren’s age, the possibility that the tumor, given its size, had recruited numerous blood vessels to ensure survival and the cavity that would be created once the mass was removed.”

Having literally written the book on surgical reconstruction, Dr. Pavletic provided expertise in closing Warren’s surgical area once the tumor was removed and in forming a surgical team of specialists for his operation. The Labrador was constantly under the watchful eye of Angell’s Pain Medicine specialist Dr. Lisa Moses and the hospital’s board-certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist, Dr. Kiko Bracker. The formation of such as team was necessary given Warren’s surgical needs including blood typing for potential transfusions and anesthetic recovery.

“Such a major procedure requires close coordination between the medicine clinicians, emergency doctors and the surgeon,” said Dr. Jean Duddy of Angell’s Internal Medicine Service and Warren’s primary veterinarian. “Angell is proud to have the facility and staff available to help those patients, such as Warren, that need that additional care and support. Although Warren’s tumor has the possibility of recurring, it appears to be a slow-growing tumor that we can monitor and help manage in the months ahead.”

Warren’s labored breathing prior to surgery was also in part due to an elongated soft palate, commonly found in Bulldogs and like breeds. Dr. Pavletic utilized a surgical laser to remove the excessive tissue that was partially obstructing Warren’s larynx during his tumor removal allowing the Labrador’s ability to breath and stamina to quickly return following his anesthetic recovery.

"Warren is a member of our family and Angell treated him as if he was a member of theirs,” said Warren’s owner Julie Vaughan. “Dr. Duddy called us three times with updates during the surgery and the entire staff was incredibly empathetic when we decided to have Warren undergo such major surgery. In fact, Dr. Pavletic operated on Warren when he was three years old to remove a mast cell tumor on his chest. So we are twice grateful.”

In addition to providing general medicine to pets, Angell Animal Medical Center’s staff of over 80 veterinarians offers 14 specialties from dermatology and neurology to dentistry and oncology. As one of the world’s largest and most advanced veterinary hospital’s, Angell-Boston, a non-profit, treats an average of more than 50,000 cases annually including more than 15,000 surgeries. For more information click here.