I suppose it is a little bit of mixed news with Smokey, although I'm pleased to say he is back from the vets with someone who loves him (more on that later.)I'm afraid to say that the abnormal testicle was a tumour, the vet said that it was very grey looking with not a lot of blood getting to it, and that it looked sinister. However, we do not know if it has spread anywhere else until we get the test results back. On a brighter note, he had his prostate checked and that is normal, whilst chest xrays did not reveal any masses in his lungs etc, which is a good sign.
Smokey suffers from a slightly wobbly older German Shepherds back end, so whilst under anaesthetic, the vet decided to xray his pelvis also, and again there was good news and bad news. His hips are fine, so I'm pleased to say he isn't suffering from hip dysplasia, however he is suffering from Lumbosacral Disease as the vet suspected, and we will continue the pain killing treatment he has been on since he arrived at The Rescue Place.
Thank you to Moorview Vets (especially Kerry who looked after him last night) for a providing Smokey with the best treatment possible. And thank you to Ameri for picking the old guy up and giving him a bed for the night before coming back to the kennels. The pictures above were taken tonight, and he looks very settled. Here is a little update as to how he is coping:
"He's having a snooze now after scoffing his chicken and rice. They have totally removed his scrotum because the weight and size of the lump had stretched and torn it too much. He has got to go back in a week to make sure everything is ok and healing properly."