Page 12 - Stuart Exposure - May '22

Page 12, Stuart Exposure

tiP Of the tail

Mast Cell Tumors: The Most histopathology to grade the tumor and determine the disease-free tumor blood supply, kills up to 80 percent of tumor cells, and
Once surgery is complete, the tissue is submitted for
promotes healing of the area. The injection does lead to swelling
Common Skin Cancer In Dogs margins. If it is a low grade MCT with good margins, prognosis and bruising of the tissue, followed by an open wound as the
is usually good and surgery is essentially considered curative. tumor dies, but this will heal within a few weeks and gives an
Mast cell tumors However, with high grade MCTs with incomplete margins overall better prognosis in a situation where limited treatment
(MCTs) are the most prognosis is guarded and further surgery, or chemotherapy is options were available before.
common form of needed. A discussion with your veterinarian is important to Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center is
skin cancer in dogs, decide the best course of action. A special mention should be dedicated to providing the best possible care for your pets. With
accounting for up to made to MCTs on the nail bed, muzzle, ears, mouth, and around focuses on compassionate care in surgery, physical therapy and
20 percent of all canine the genitals and anus, as these tend to behave more malignantly rehabilitation, preventative medicine, extensive diagnostics, and
skin tumors. They occasionally develop internally, but this form than their grade would suggest and often require further treatment emergency service, Palm City Animal Medical Center combines
is not as common. They vary in appearance, sometimes being a regardless of their grade. exceptional medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and
red raised bump on the surface of the skin or a lump just under A new treatment on the market as of 2020 that is yielding their owners. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit
the skin, and may be ulcerated, swollen, or itchy. While some positive results is Stelfonta. This medication is used in dogs where www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on Facebook
may be present for many months without growing, others can the mast cell tumor cannot be adequately addressed surgically. at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
appear suddenly and grow very quickly. As they are loaded Stelfonta is injected directly into the tumor where it interrupts
with histamine and other inflammatory biochemicals, they can
wax and wane in size over a 24-hour period, especially when Treasure Coast Outdoors
stimulated by touch or environmental allergens.
While any dog can develop a mast cell tumor, several
breeds are at higher risk. The breeds most commonly affected By Jim Weix The mutton snapper bite is great. Work reefs in depths of 70
are beagles, Boston terriers, boxers, bulldogs, pit bulls, bull Summer fishing is finally to 90 feet, off Stuart and the Loran Tower. Live baits fished with
mastiffs, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, pugs, Rhodesian happening. Cobia are being long leaders work best, but anchoring and using hunks of bonito
ridgebacks, Weimaraners, shar-peis, and Bernese mountain dogs. caught around the reefs and fished on the bottom is also a favorite.
Shar-peis and Labradors tend to develop mast cell tumors at an wrecks in 60 feet of water. Lane and vermilion snapper are being taken using chicken rigs
earlier age and they tend to be more malignant, whereas boxers, Sandpile Hill and Bull around the six- and eight-mile reefs as well as the Loran Tower
bulldogs and pugs tend to develop less-aggressive mast cell Shark Barge are favorites, reef. Be sure to also put out a couple of flat lines with live bait,
tumors. but often crowded. as the kingfish bite is good.
Mast cell tumors are usually diagnosed by a simple At these sites, some anglers The catch and release snook bite in the St. Lucie River
noninvasive needle aspirate where a small needle is inserted try hanging a dead bonito over continues to be good. Some huge fish are being found along the
directly into the mass to obtain some of the cells. These cells the side of the boat to attract the docks and bridges. They are mostly being caught on live baits
are then evaluated under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis. bull sharks and then sight cast in these areas.
After confirmation, depending on size and location, surgery to at any cobia following them. This can work, but all too often you Anglers are catching flounder at the Stuart Causeway. Shrimp
remove the mass is the next step. MCTs can be challenging to will lose any hooked cobia to the sharks. on a jig head or small, live pilchards on a knocker rig seem to be
remove, as often the visible mass is just a small part of the actual Since the bull sharks are already there, it is important to get a favorite.
tumor. Think of them as icebergs, where there is much more under any hooked cobia in the boat quickly. I use 80-pound braided line Editor’s note: Jim Weix is an avid hunter, angler,
the surface than what you can see. Therefore, surgery usually with a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. It may not sound sporty, conservationist, as well as an outdoor writer.
involves a significantly larger excision than just the mass itself to but I’d rather eat the cobia than feed it to the bull sharks. Jim is included in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s Hall
try to account for this microscopic spread. Sometimes, however, If this hook and haul them type of fishing doesn’t appeal to of Fame, for his work in helping restore thousands of acres of
there is not enough surrounding tissue to remove the mass with you, try sight casting a cobia jig to them when they are following wetlands. Jim is a broker associate with The Keyes Company.
a large excision and in those cases we take as much as possible rays, sharks or turtles. This will get you away from the crowds and He can be reached at (772) 341-2941 or by email: jimweix@
to get the bulk of the disease. you are likely to pick up some dolphin while you are searching. jimweix.com.

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