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Home Skin Lumps in Dogs

Skin Lumps in Dogs

Skin Lumps Dogs

Questions

  • Why does my dog have a lump?
  • Possible causes of a lump
  • How to treat a lump
A dog’s skin is their largest organ and is said to be a good reflection of their overall health. Luckily, it’s an easy organ to keep a careful eye on: we see and touch our pets’ skin every day! Lumps and bumps on the skin can be concerning, but in many cases turn out to be not as worrisome as they seem. However, it’s important to get all lumps checked out by a veterinary professional, as looks can be deceiving and malignant masses can look very similar to more benign lumps. 

Why does my dog have a lump?

Lumps and bumps on dogs occur for all sorts of reasons. It’s easy to panic and assume the worst, but many lumps are caused by irritation, friction or inflammation, rather than cancer. For example, a dog with a lump on its neck may just be a microchip lump that you can feel with your fingers when giving them a good old neck scratch! 
Many skin lumps look very similar to each other, but without superhero powers, it’s impossible to tell exactly what a lump is just from looking at it. That’s why it’s important to get all lumps and bumps checked by a vet. A dog with a cancer lump may look very similar to a dog with a non-cancerous growth, so it’s always best to err on the safe side.  

Dog sitting up.

Possible causes of a lump

If you find anything unusual on your pet, whether that’s a large fluid-filled lump on your dog or even a tiny lump on your dog’s paw, it’s important to find out more. The causes of skin growths vary, from the benign to the scary.  

Non-cancerous lumps 

If you see a lump or bump on your dog, it’s easy for the mind to fly straight to cancer. However, some of the most common causes of skin lumps on dogs are not related to cancer at all. 
These include: 

  1. Abscesses - pus-filled swellings which are often hot and sore to touch. The skin may look red and angry. They may burst, discharging blood and pus. 

  2. Warts - also called papillomas, these small masses have an uneven, ‘feathery’ appearance and are very slow-growing. 

  3. Skin tags - small, soft outgrowths of skin, attached to the body by a thin stalk. They often form when there is some friction against the skin.  

  4. Cysts - fluid-filled swellings that can rise and subside over time. They are painless and usually completely harmless although they can become red and sore if irritated.  

Benign masses 

Benign tumours are slow-growing and don’t invade other parts of the body.  
Examples include: 

  1. Lipomas - these fatty lumps on dogs are very common. They are soft, mobile under the skin and often start very small. They are perfectly benign but can cause problems if they grow very large.  

  2. Histiocytomas - presenting as small, round, red, raised lumps, they are often found in young dogs. They appear very suddenly (for example, a red angry lump that appears on your dog’s neck overnight), but will disappear on their own after a few weeks. 

  3. Sebaceous adenoma - these look a bit like warts, and are common in older dogs. 

Cancerous lumps 

Malignant tumours come in all shapes and sizes. They are often characterised by rapid growth and can spread around the body and cause ill-effects. 
Here are some of the more common types: 

  1. Mast cell tumours - these are a common skin cancer in dogs, and can appear anywhere on the body. They can be very aggressive and spread rapidly.  

  2. Malignant Melanoma - often dark grey-black in appearance, they are most commonly seen around the mouth and feet.  

  1. Fibrosarcoma - often felt as a hard, moveable lump under the dog’s skin, these can grow very fast and invade local tissues. 

  2. Mammary carcinoma - most common in unneutered female dogs, these often feel like hard, pea-sized lumps in the mammary region.  

How to treat a lump

Skin lumps in dogs may require veterinary treatment - anything from surgery to chemotherapy - or they might require no treatment at all! It all depends on what exactly the lump is made of, and where it is on the body.  
It’s recommended to check your dog’s skin regularly for any changes: colour, itchiness, sore patches, hair loss and lumps. This doesn’t have to be a hardship for you or your canine pal - it can even be done by giving your pooch a good stroke whilst having a sofa snuggle. If you notice a lump on your dog’s skin, the best thing to do is to get it checked by a veterinary surgeon - even if it seems similar to other lumps or bumps your dog has. 
Your vet may want to know some extra information about the lump, so try and be prepared. Note when the lump was first noticed, how big it is (measure it with a ruler, or use a coin to determine an approximate size), whether it has changed in appearance, and if your dog has been unwell at all.  
There are some tests that will help determine what exactly the lump is. Your vet may take a sample of cells from the lump using a needle, and then look at them under a microscope. In many cases, this can be done with your dog awake as it is a similar needle to having a vaccination. Another option is a biopsy, where a piece of the lump is removed for full analysis at a laboratory, which will require sedation or anaesthesia. In some circumstances, blood tests, x-rays or ultrasound scans may be needed. 
Often, if the lump is benign, your vet may recommend no immediate treatment but to monitor the lump - a series of photos can be really helpful in these cases. Nastier lumps may need to be removed surgically, and others may require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Your vet will always talk through all the options for your pet.  
If you’re concerned about skin lumps in your dog, speak to your local veterinarian today.Â