One common question we get from pet owners on our Ask A Pet Pro blog is:
“My dog has a lump, a bump, a cyst, a fatty tumor….
Should I be worried? ”
While these things are not uncommon, especially in older pets, they should always be checked out.
Recently we received a newsletter from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine that addressed this question for dogs:
“Maybe it’s just a tiny mass on Fido’s chest, or a new bump on Fluffy’s neck. It may look harmless, but mast cell tumors can look like anything. Even a lipoma, a benign fatty tumor many older dogs get, can easily be misdiagnosed without further testing.
Dr. Alison Book is an oncology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. She says, “mast cell tumors can have a wide range of behavior and prognoses in the dog.” They also have varying appearances and can mimic other tumors. Similar to lipomas, they may feel soft and moveable; alternatively they can be firm, red or inflamed lesions. In short, you can’t judge a tumor by its cover.
It is for this reason that Dr. Book recommends that your veterinarian aspirate any bump found on your dog that looks suspicious. An aspirate is simple to perform and not very stressful to the patient either. A veterinarian gently sticks a small gauge needle into the mass and fenestrates (small movements) or aspirates (pulls back on the syringe) to pull out cells within the mass. With this aspirate, experts can review the cells under a microscope.”
Does your dog have a bump or lump? Do yourself and your pet a favor and have it checked out soon. If it’s nothing to worry about that’s good to know but if it is something that needs to be addressed, you will have increased the chances for a positive outcome for your pet by finding out sooner rather than later.
And if you should need help finding a local vet, VetLocator.com has many available for you to search.
To your pet’s good health,
Linda