So, yup... hystiocytoma.
The vet took a smear from the one on Fausts toe and looked at it under the microscope, and then she dragged out her vet bible and showed me what the cells look like...
I have to keep an eye on it, and if they get bigger in the next 7 - 10 days we'll have to have them removed.
Phew... I am SOOO relieved!
Faust got tons of cookies and compliments on his "soft" mouth when taking treats - he used to be a snappy/grabby little beast, and we have been working on this a lot - I was very proud of him.
He was very well-mannered, even around all the other strange dogs... and I realized how much I've learned here about dog body language... wow. There was a poodle who definitely wasn't interested in any interaction - and I NOTICED!
Today was also the first time I've ever heard Faust growl at a person, which wasn't so great... but, in his defense, the woman he growled at was just about close enough to us to stand on my heels, literally.
She responded, not by MOVING an inch or two away (which would've been the PC thing to do, right???), but by saying very sternly:" THAT'S not very nice!!!" and giving me and Faust the stink eye. Lisa, the vet tech, chimed in immediately and said:" Awwww, Faust baby... I'd be growling, too, if some strange woman almost stepped on MY Mom or MY tail!" And tossed him a treat.
We also met the puppy, but I'll start another thread about her in the rescue section.