Dog owners often panic when they witness cysts, lumps, and bumps on their dogs. However, it is not always bad news, as many times they turn out to be benign, meaning non-cancerous in nature, so nothing will happen to the pet. Still, the paw parents should not overlook these lumps, cysts, and bumps and take the furry member to the hospital immediately.
Did you recently pick up your dog and see something concerning its skin, like lumps or bumps, and immediately start looking for what might have gone wrong? Then, this blog will offer you considerable peace of mind as it will discuss the common causes behind the appearance of these bumps, cysts, and lumps,, when you should consult a vet, the types of diagnosis, and how to prevent this from happening in the future.
The Appearance of Bumps, Lumps, and Cysts: What Are the Common Causes?
We know lots of questions regarding the causes of the appearance of bumps, cysts, and lumps on your dog’s skin must be popping into your mind. So, let’s discuss them one by one:
Lipomas- Fatty Tumours
Lipomas or fatty tumours are the most common kinds of lumps to be witnessed on your dog’s skin. What is their texture? They are usually moveable, and soft and don’t pose the risk of Cancer in dogs. Embrace Pet Insurance, claims that about 16% of dogs are affected by Lipomas. This happens usually to female dogs, who are middle-aged or older obese. According to the Veterinary Ireland Journal, Labrador Retriever and Dobermann Pinscher have also entered the list of predisposed breeds. Therefore, the weird thing you saw on your dog’s skin could be Lipomas too.
Sebaceous Cysts
Sebaceous cysts are blocked oil glands and can be present in the shape of round bumps on your dog’s skin and these are very small. The cysts are not painful every time, but they do carry the tendency of getting infected. According to the Pet Medical Center, the Sebaceous cysts are usually seen in Cocker Spaniels and Schnauzers, but still, this cyst can grow in other dog breeds as well. Usually, when one is spotted, then it is said that more will develop as your dog grows. The relaxing part is that these cysts don’t impact your furry pal since they are benign. Hence, if your dog is either of the two mentioned breeds, then you can consider it as a Sebaceous cyst as well.
Histiocytomas
In the list of causes behind bumps, lumps, and cysts in dogs, the Histiocytomas are also found. These are benign tumours commonly seen on dogs who are younger than 2 years. You may often see it on the front of a dog’s body in the form of a lump on your dog’s head or either on its legs. If your dog has crossed the age limit, then that will be a very rare case. What do they look like? Well, these are present in the form of raised, pink, and fleshy and can increase in size, irritating your poor boy before improving. The good part is that these usually vanish on their own within a time span of a few months. According to the MDPI, Canine cutaneous histiocytoma- CCH is a common form of tumour found in younger dogs and is often linked with regressive behaviour in a spontaneous manner. Then, Nature says that in a text-mining-based analysis of 100,000 tumours affecting cats and dogs in the UK, it was found that 7.7% of dogs had Histiocytomas. Therefore, check your dog as maybe it might be having this on their skin.
Warts
Warts or Papillomas are another common cause for observing lumps, bumps, and cysts in dogs. You will normally see them growing around their eyes or other parts of the body. What causes them to appear on your dog’s body? Well, these warts are a consequence of a virus that holds the potential to spread by coming in direct contact with an already infected dog and sharing food or water from their feeding bowls or taking their toys in their mouth. How to identify warts? You will see them as small, cauliflower-like texture, and fleshy. Many tend to dry and fall off from your dog’s skin in a matter of a few months, depending on your pet’s maturity of the immune system. If you see your dog eating or swallowing with difficulty, then that hints that the warts are bothering your big pup and might require surgery to remove them to offer your dog permanent relief. According to the Kingsdale Animal Hospital, the oral ones usually affect a large number of dogs and in a study, it was revealed that up to 50% of healthy dogs have antibodies to this virus.
Skin Tag
Not forgetting to mention that even a skin tag is in the category of causes. These are common in senior dogs and certain breeds. What happens here? A skin tag grows particularly in those places where a dog’s skin tends to rub together. According to the Bond Vet, skin tags develop in dogs due to the pressure from lying on hard surfaces as a result, their elbow or other parts of the trunk that come in contact with the floor can lead to skin tags. Besides, when your dog moves, the skin of its armpits, sand, skin folds under a collar, or a harness opens the ground for skin tag occurrence. How are skin tags formed? These are made up of tissues, which are generally found in your dog’s skin, such as blood vessels and collagen proteins. Skin tags are of the same colour as your dog’s skin and extend out from the surface on thin stalks. It may be possible that you saw a skin tag on your dog’s skin, hence you need not worry, but if the bump becomes a source of irritation for your dog, then yes, you have to go ahead with a surgical treatment.
Nevus
Nevus or a mole can emerge on your dog’s skin. Don’t worry, these are benign in nature and usually grow in body parts prone to trauma, such as the neck, head, and legs of older dogs. Vets often suggest proceeding with surgery to remove the moles.
Sebaceous Gland Tumour
This tumour is a common sight in senior dogs. The Sebaceous gland tumour is smaller than a pea and needs no particular place to develop as it can grow anywhere on your body’s skin. Some tumours will start bleeding, while others may secrete a material, resulting in a hard, crust-like texture on your dog’s skin. According to the Huntsville Veterinary Specialists and Emergency, the nevus is a well-defined skin defect that you can see on your dog through any solo skin component or through the combination of multiple skin components. This is often used with a reliable and qualified epidermal or sebaceous gland.
You will often find these tumours forming on your dog’s head, especially their eyelids which are black in colour. The tumours are not dangerous, however, if you notice that they keep growing on your dog’s skin, then you should not delay and take them to the vet. Therefore, pay close attention to your wagging tail and take the necessary action accordingly.
Meibomian
Have you ever read about a Meibomian gland tumour? If not, then let us guide you. It is a benign lump, which grows slowly and turns into a meibomian gland right beside the edge of your dog’s eyelid. What does this gland do? The gland plays a pivotal role in producing a tear film, which, when it gets blocked, you can expect growth to form.
The Meibomian glands are usually cystic and consist of fluids. Furthermore, it can outgrow sticking inside your dog’s eyelid. And the worst part is that they can cause irritation, become painful, ulcerated, or inflamed. Apart from that, the glands can also lead to the inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva. The large size glands can annoy your dog, while they blink since these add to the tearing and tear staining.
How are they diagnosed? The vet can diagnose the tumour by observing the physical appearance and location of the gland. The tumour can be treated with surgery, or the specific tissue can be frozen for easy removal. Although the chances of returning are narrow, you can still expect regrowth.
Epulis
Epulis is classified as another benign tumour growth that is present in the mouth of the dogs. How do these form? The tumour develops in the mouth when your dog’s tooth rubs against the gum, which usually happens due to an underbite, particularly in flat-faced breeds.
The Epulis are pink in colour, fleshy and smooth texture-wise and their locations are on the gum tissue towards the outer surface of a canine, incisor, or premolar tooth. Their appearance comes off as a mushroom or a piece of muscle that does not move and can have a bony interior. You may see some kinds of Epulis invade the bony tissues of your dog’s internal mouth.
How do vets make sure that it is an Epulis and not any other cause of bump? They simply do a biopsy, which helps them to identify the appearance. Furthermore, the doctor will also take an X-ray of your dog’s head to see how far the specific growth has spread. So, the results will show whether it has affected the surrounding tissues or not.
Don’t worry about the procedure as these tumours can be removed with the help of surgery. If need be the vet can also take the infected tooth and any bony tissue that came under its influence.
If the entire Epulis is removed, then there are narrow chances of it regrowing in your dog’s mouth again. Sometimes, when the vet considers the growth to be inoperable, then they use radiation therapy to fulfil the purpose.
Follicular Cysts
The name must have offered you a hint that this growth is related to hair follicles. Let us explain what these cysts are. The follicular cysts are large but benign tumours that grow from the hair follicle of your dog. If you try to press these tumours, you may witness these cysts releasing a material, thick in texture, and the colour can be yellow, white, or brown. As they grow bigger, the bump can irritate your furry friend by being itchy and painful.
We know you must be wondering how vets diagnose follicular cysts. The solution is a physical examination. In other cases, it can also be verified under a microscope, where the vet magnifies a small sample of cells taken through a needle.
The worrisome part is that these cysts can be infected, and due to that, vets may recommend starting antibiotic treatment. Hence, if you think your dog is giving you cues of pain, then the tumours can be removed via surgery and should not grow again.
Hemangiomas
Hemangiomas are another addition to the long list of bumps, lumps, and cysts on dogs. Yes, they are benign and usually grow in adult dogs. If you look closely, you will mistake them for blood vessels when they are not. These tumours usually grow in areas where there is scattered hair growth. These are your dog’s trunk, legs, or their underbelly. Are they solo or multiple? Hemangiomas can be solo and multiple. It is in circular form, reddish-black, and compressible. Some of them can grow bigger in size and even get ulcerated. If they begin to bother your dog, then the recommended treatment is surgery. Therefore, look carefully to see if your dog has these and consult the vet accordingly.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant type of tumour that causes skin cancer. It can grow in dark skin or hair and, yes, can spread to other parts of the body. Therefore, if the bump on your dog’s skin is melanoma, then you must immediately go to the vet so they start the surgical procedure.
When To Consult A Vet?
You must make an appointment with your vet when you notice any of the following changes in the bump. These are:
Rapid Growth
If the bump is growing rapidly, then that is not a good sign, so get in touch with your vet.
Change In Size Or Shape
Is the size or shape of the bump the same or do you think it has changed? If it has changed, then rush to the vet.
Change In Color
If you think that the colour of the tumour has changed, then seek the vet’s help.
Bleeding
Does the tumour get blood on and off? If yes, then go to the vet as soon as possible.
The Types of Diagnosis
Your vet will perform a few physical examinations and recommend the following tests:
Fine Needle Aspiration
The Fone Needle Aspiration or FNA is a simple method, where the vet inserts the needle into the bump or lump of your dog to collect cells. Then, they will place it under their microscope for further examination.
Biopsy
A biopsy is another diagnosis option, where the vet removes a small piece of tissue from the lump and examines it under the microscope.
Blood Tests
Vets can also run blood tests to make it easier to find out the main issue of your dog.
Tips For Lump Prevention In Dogs
As a pet owner, it is natural for you to seek ways to prevent the appearance of lumps, cysts, and bumps on your dog. But we can provide you with some tips to follow to avoid this from happening again:
Regular Checkups
Don’t delay your weekly vet checkup. This will help the vet identify and address issues such as bumps and lumps early so they can recommend the surgical procedure right away.
Healthy Diet
Start offering your dog a healthy diet, as that can assist in strengthening your dog’s immunity against some types of bumps and lumps. In this way, you will not need to worry about your friend’s health as well.
Exercise Regularly
Be it outdoor or indoor, you must make your dog exercise regularly. Re-adjust your routine so that you can take your dog for a morning or evening walk in any nearby park. Then, you can keep it engaged in multiple activities so that it is usually on its toes. The physical schedule will reduce the chances of developing fatty tumours.
Keep It Away From Toxins
Show some responsibility as a devoted dog parent and try your best to keep your pup away from toxic environments. This also plays a role in developing cancerous tumours. Therefore, take care of your dog.
Conclusion
With this, we have reached the conclusion of this blog and hope that you were able to extract the necessary details related to the common causes of bumps, cysts, and lumps in your dog, along with the methods of diagnosis and surgical treatments for them. Therefore, you can educate your other dog-owner friends as well and immediately go to the vet if the situation gets worse.
