Case File #10450-B (Anubis M.)

 Anubis, a 9 and a half year old male Siberian Husky, has been a patient at Hampden Family Pet Hospital since 2004.  In early February of 2010, a large mass developed over the outer aspect of his left elbow.  The mass was about the size of a baseball.  Initial tests on the mass showed that it was benign.  Our surgical team proposed removing the mass and closing the defect with a skin graft.  A mass of this size makes surgical removal very challenging, especially over the elbow region.  Another complicating factor is that Anubis is a diabetic and this condition can interfere with proper wound healing.

Anubis was taken to surgery on March 5, 2010.  The large mass was completely removed and a skin graft was taken from above the elbow and rotated over the site where the mass was removed.  Drains were placed to remove excess fluid from the surgery site.  The skin graft was then sutured in place.  Anubis handled the surgery very well.  The skin graft was monitored very closely over the next two weeks.  The entire skin graft remained viable and Anubis continued on with his normal daily routines.  Final analysis of the mass proved that it was benign and the entire mass was completely removed thus resulting in a surgical cure.  Anubis's mom was terrific in bringing him in for numerous recheck appointments, making sure he did not lick at the incision, and keeping his activity controlled during the healing process.