Worried about a lumps or bumps on your pet? : A step by step guide to lumps and bumps
Rutuja Sawant, Patil Harshal, G. S. Khandekar
Mumbai Veterinary College Parel-400012
Finding a lump or bump on your pet’s body can be worried experience, but don’t panic. This article is going to enlighten the step by step guide lumps and bumps.
Take a Closer Look to Examine
The moment you discover a new lump on your pet’s body, you need to take the time to examine it. Is it on the surface of the skin or is it underneath the skin? What is the size and shape? Use references—is it closer to a pea or a golf ball? Is it flat or raised? Bumpy or smooth? Is it firm or soft? Does it move? Is it bleeding? Establish a weekly routine of inspecting your dog from the tip of their nose to the end of their tail.
During your inspection, be sure to scan your pet’s body thoroughly for any other masses and make note of them as well. How long have they been there? Have you noticed any changes in size, colour, texture, shape, or firmness? Does your pet have any sores or open wounds that aren’t healing?
See Your Veterinarian
Most lumps and bumps are harmless, but it’s important to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for every new growth you find on your pet’s body.
Your veterinarian will perform a full physical exam, they may carry out couple of blood tests and may ask u for further diagnostics for the confirmation. They will also palpate your pet’s abdomen to feel for any potential masses within the body. In addition, an examination of your pet’s mouth may allow detection of malignant cancers that are often missed until they become advanced. Like you, they will also keep a record of each mass and its location to help monitor any changes that may occur over a period of time.
Identify the Mass
When it comes to cancer, early detection is the key for the successful treatment. The first step in diagnosing any new lump or bump is to perform a fine needle aspiration, or FNAC. This simple procedure allows your veterinarian to determine the nature of the growth by collecting a sample of cells and viewing them under a microscope. Keep in mind that malignant masses are not painful; therefore the only definitive way to know whether a growth is cancerous is to examine the cells. Occasionally, an FNA does not provide enough information and a biopsy is also needed.
Types of Skin Growths in Dogs
A skin growth is a benign (non-cancerous) lump of tissue that projects out from the surrounding skin. Below are some of the more common skin growths on dogs: abscess, cyst, injection side reaction, hematoma, hives and allergic reactions
Types of Skin Tumours in Dogs
The word tumour is one of the scariest words a pet parent can hear. However, not all tumours are cancerous, and even those that are can still be treated. A tumour, simply, is a mass of tissue that forms as the result of the accumulation of abnormal cells. Read on to learn about some of the different types of tumours and where they might form on your dog’s body: histiocytoma, lipoma, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, malignant skin tumours.
Consider the Treatment Options
Once a mass has been identified, your veterinarian will decide further treatment plan. Fatty tumours known as lipomas are benign and typically do not require additional treatment, unless their size or location is bothersome to your pet and can be removed surgically. If a mass removal is recommended, there are a few options depending on the cell type, location, and size of the growth.
Surgery
Surgical excision involves your pet undergoing local or general anaesthesia to remove the mass. This procedure is best for large or malignant growths, as well as those located in areas that may affect your pet’s quality of life. Occasionally, excision may be scheduled with another procedure, like a dental cleaning, to minimize your pet’s time under anaesthesia.
Cryotherapy
Non-invasive cryotherapy, also known as cryosurgery, is the process of rapidly freezing tissue to destroy unwanted growths on the skin. This is a great option for small, superficial masses and lesions such as warts or skin tags.
Chemotherapy
Certain drugs (chemicals) destroy cancer cells. This type of treatment is called chemotherapy. It can be used to manage and treat several types of cancer. When it is used, the most common treatment goal is to shrink, stop the growth of, or destroy the cancer without long-term negative effects on the quality of life for the animal. Veterinarians will prescribe chemotherapy based on the type of cancer to be treated, the stage of the cancer, the overall condition of the animal, and any financial constraints that may be present.
Radiation therapy
One of the most common treatments for cancer in both humans and animals is radiation therapy. This treatment is sometimes also called x-ray therapy, radioisotope irradiation, or cobalt therapy.
Follow Up
Regular annual or semi-annual exams with your veterinarian and monthly examinations at home can help you stay on top of any changes in your pet’s existing lumps and bumps—and quickly detect any new ones.
The most important thing for you to do is stay alert to any lumps on your pooch and let your veterinarian know about them; that way, they can determine if treatment is necessary.
