Question Details
Plasmacytoma In A Dog
by CorinneC - January 7, 2023    View Case Report
Oliver is a 9.5yr MN Viszla. He had had multiple interdigital cysts as a young dog so O transitioned him to raw diet @ 2 years and none until this issue. He came to me in Aug 2021 with a nasty plasmacytoma tumour on his LF foot (it was initially a tiny cyst in Aug 2020 but grew substantially (5-6cmround, purple, and splitting two central toes apart) but Dec 2020 and he was favouring, not walking on it). The O had been to 3 different specialists who all rec'd full amputation of the leg. She had sought 2 other holistic Vet opinions, had AQ and herbs, but no change. On her own accord she started using PF Wondersalve and broke down the mass layer by layer. O admits his QOL was poor during this time but she felt very helpless. By the time I saw it it was shrunk by half but still significant in size and he still seemed painful. The O was still adamant in not amputating yet if there was any other possibility.

He is a very silly, nervous boy to examine, barks to enter rooms, and does not like his LF foot touched. He had a lavender-purple tongue, normal size, very thin white TC, moist. Pulses were well toned. The surface of the mass was bright red (he licks without a bandage on), 5cm-round, sits between digits 3 & 4, toenails curl in, underside of foot is swollen, two digit pads level with mass. He also has a healthy skitag on his LH flank and a sebaceous cyst on his dorsum. I put him on HSA cpd (didn't have CHJLGMLT in stock but eventually switched to this the following mth), Hoxsey-like, and XFHMY. I also rec'd Immune Pet (mushroom mix) and homeopathics Arnica and Rhus tox for pain.

1 mth later the mass had shrunk, the open ulcer had tacked down and dried up, and he was walking much better! I saw him monthly, by December the cyst had moved to the bottom of foot. His tongue now looked more pink-lavender, but more dry and thin and his pulses weren't as toned so I added modXFZYT + Dan Shen (anxiety) + Dang Gui + San Qi. I also did an FNA - spindle cells, pyogranulomatous inflamm with sepsis, Ddx: keratin-filled adnexal cyst or neoplasia.

In Nov/21 I debulked the mass and formal Ddx was Plasma Cell tumour. Oliver did fantastically until 2 mth ago (winter) where mass came back and grew again Oct --> Dec very fast. He has been on CHJLGMLT, Hoxsey-like, and XFHMY all along. In the summer of 2022 I added back modXFZYT but wonder if this caused mass to grow by increasing blood flow to it? In December he developed a mass on his Lt side of neck that turned into an abscess, healed up with abx, but still, I presume, scar tissue present. Has developed two lipomas as well.

At present he has really nice toned pulses, tongue is lavender-pink, wide, moist. Mass is substantial, producing more lumps on lumps (shiny pink and hairless), main digit pad expanding and cracks forming from pressure likely. We are very much needing to do something, likely amputate. However, I thought I'd reach out to the herbal master and see if there is anything else you would recommend??

Thank you so much for your help as always!
Corinne in Victoria
Replies
by naturevet
January 14, 2023
I love the approach you used, Corinne: Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin plus Hoxsey.

Since it responded so well to Wonder Salve, you could try it again. My own preference would be to use Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin topically, especially given the histopathological description. XFHMY has a marked anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic effect when given topically.

My approach for that is to mix 10g of XFHMY into 3 oz of some sort of wound healing paste. I like Calendula. Adding Echinacea powder (maybe 5g) would likely help, too. If you added Turmeric powder, you could avoid using it with Blood tonics in mXFZYT if you're worried about spurring tumor growth (which I would worry about, too).

Some DMSO (which the owner might be able to source if she is buying stuff for horses) could serve as a carrier. I'd mix the salve mix with the DMSO on a guaze, then daub it on the tumor with a tongue depressor, then cover it with the 4 x 4 and VetWrap it. I'd do that a couple of times a day. The DMSO is good for Blood stasis as well.

Lastly, if you had some injectable vitamin A and D, you could mix THAT in the blend, too!

Orally, if you're looking to punch things up, Xiao Chai Hu Tang gives you that anti-inflammatory circulatory push, more so than XFZYT

Hope that helps!

Steve
by CorinneC
January 15, 2023
Wonderful suggestions! I have emailed the owner and will keep curedcases posted!
Corinne
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