Dog Lump: What Can It Be?

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 7 August 2021
Update Date: 12 May 2024
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Is this Lump Serious? 5 Steps to Know
Video: Is this Lump Serious? 5 Steps to Know

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Sometimes, when a tutor caresses or bathes your pet, you can feel small bumps on the skin similar to lumps that raise concerns and many doubts. When a lump appears in the dog's body, it is very common to think that it is as serious as a tumor. However, don't despair, not all lumps signify malignancy, and the sooner they are identified, the better the prognosis.

If you have identified a lump on your dog's skin, take him to the vet so he can give you a check and act as soon as possible if necessary.

At PeritoAnimal, we'll help you demystify the dog pit: what can it be? and how to treat.


lump in dog

As in humans, the lump in puppies can vary in size, shape, location and severity and is very important. early identify the appearance of a lump in the dog's body, that is, the sooner it is detected and treated, the greater the chances of cure.

The causes can also vary widely and only the veterinarian can assess and report on the type of injury or disease that is present, as well as resolve this issue. Most lumps are benign, slow to grow and are concentrated in a single region, but some can be malignant and severe, growing very fast and spreading to various locations in the body. The older the dog, the more likely it is to have malignant lumps.

Dog Lump: What Can It Be?

The better you know your pet's body, the easier it will be to identify the presence of a new and different structure than normal. The causes can be varied or even a combination of several factors, so we will explain each of the possible causes of lumps in dogs.


ticks

These parasites bite and lodge in the animal's skin, which can be confused with a lump in the skin of the dog.

In addition to causing skin irritation, they transmit disease and, therefore, must be carefully removed to include the mouth because, often when removed, the mouth remains and causes a reaction that leads to the "real" lump, called granuloma, which can appear in different places of the body depending on where the tick has bitten, and the dog may be full of lumps all over the body. Learn more about ticks in the article: Diseases that ticks can transmit.

warts

These bumps can also arise and cause doubt. Warts are multiple rounded lesions that resemble a “cauliflower” and are caused by a papillomavirus.


Puppies or older puppies are the most susceptible because of their weakened immune system. In young people, they can appear in any mucosa, such as the gums, roof of the mouth, tongue or regions such as the nose, lips, eyelids, limbs and trunk, being more common the lump in the dog's muzzle. In older puppies, they can appear anywhere on the body, especially around the fingers and belly.

Dogs with this type of lump usually do not have other symptoms as they are benign nodules, after a few months they regress and disappear, having little effect on the animal's life.

Side Effects of Injections or Vaccines

Your pet may have a rash due to reactions from injections of medications or vaccines. These reactions arise where they are normally applied: neck or limbs.

If you notice a lump in your dog after the vaccine or needle and syringe medication, it is very likely an inflammatory reaction to that injection. Learn about other causes of lumps in the dog's neck in this article.

allergic dermatitis

Dermatitis is defined as an inflammation of the skin's constituents that generates redness, itching and blisters. Allergic dermatitis appears in the form of small nodules or blisters in regions where hair is scarcer. There are dogs that have an allergic reaction to flea bites and other insects (such as mosquitoes, bees or spiders) or even to plants, pollen or toxic substances.

If the animal is infested with fleas, it will be possible to see dog full of lumps all over his body. Bites from other insects tend to be concentrated in one location, but are of variable location.In plant allergies it will be more common to see a lump in the dog's muzzle, a lump in the dog's eye or in the limbs, by the tendency to sniff or walk in vegetation.

When the cause is discovered, it must be eliminated, and the doctor may prescribe antiparasitics, antihistamines, antibiotics, or corticosteroids.

atopic dermatitis

Canine atopic dermatitis is characterized by a genetic alteration which causes a failure in the natural protection of the dog's skin, which facilitates the entry of particles into the skin causing an allergy, that is, the animal's skin is very sensitive to the environment.

This form of dermatitis can manifest itself through the appearance of lumps in the dog, but the origin of the allergy is not known.

Lick dermatitis (neurodermatitis)

comes from a behavioral problem, caused by anxiety or stress, in which the dog develops the behavior of excessively licking a region, even pulling out the fur and causing an ulcerated lump, usually on the limbs.

The wound will not heal as long as the animal continues to lick it, so it is essential to find the reason causing this behavior and eliminate it. Read our full article on why a dog licks its paw to learn more about this type of compulsion.

enlarged lymph nodes

Lymph nodes are small masses of lymph tissue that belong to the immune system and are distributed throughout the body, acting as blood filters. they are the first disease indicators in the tissues and when there is any inflammation or infection in the body, the lymph nodes that drain the affected region enlarge.

There are lymph nodes throughout the dog's body but those that can be identified by the tutor are located near the jaw and neck, armpits and groin. Some can reach the size of a potato and their consistency can vary from soft to hard. The animal may also have a fever.

Bruises

lumps of accumulated blood under the skin caused by a trauma or blow. If your dog has been involved in fights or has been injured by an object, it is very likely that he has a lump of this type.

They can occur in ear infections (otohematomas) that can resolve on their own or need to be drained.

abscesses

Are accumulations of pus and blood under the skin caused by infectious agents resulting from infections caused by bites or poorly healed wounds.

Abscesses can be located all over the body, have varying sizes and usually need to be drained and disinfected with an antibacterial cleaning solution. In case of severe infection, the veterinarian will recommend an antibiotic, because the animal may have a generalized infection that could be causing loss of appetite and depression.

Sebaceous cysts (Follicular cyst)

They are hard, soft and hairless masses that appear in dogs and cats due to the blockage of sebaceous glands (glands found near the hair and that produce an oily substance that lubricates the skin, sebum) and that resemble pimples. Usually are benign, do not cause discomfort to the animal and, therefore, no special treatment is given unless they are infected. When they burst, they expel a pasty white substance. Older dogs are the most affected and it is common to see lumps on the dog's back.

Sebaceous gland hyperplasia

lumps benign that arise due to the rapid growth of the sebaceous glands. They usually form on the legs, torso or eyelids.

Histiocytomas

Although the cause is not known, they are lumps reddish benign, which usually appear in puppies. They are small, hard and ulcerated nodules that appear suddenly and settle on the head, ears or limbs, disappearing by itself after some time. If they don't go away, it's best to see your veterinarian again. Learn more about what can be a lump in a dog's head in this article.

Lipomas

They are small deposits of fat in the form of soft, smooth and non-painful lumps, being more common in cats and obese and older dogs. usually are harmless and appear on the chest (rib), abdomen and front limbs, so it is common to feel a lump in the belly of the dog.

This type of nodules is due to the rapid growth of fat cells and rarely needs to be treated or removed, as it is usually just an aesthetic situation.

Surgery is only necessary if these lumps are causing any kind of discomfort or discomfort to the animal, if they grow quickly, ulcerate, become infected or if your dog constantly licks or bites them.

Are benign, but in rare cases they can become malignant and start to spread throughout the body.

Malignant skin tumors

They usually come up suddenly and are like bruises that never heal. This is one of the cases where it is extremely important that the identification and diagnosis are made at an early stage of the tumor, because the sooner it is discovered, the faster treatment starts to increase the chances of cure, since they can spread by throughout the body and affect various vital organs. The main skin nodules and tumors in dogs are:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma: are skin cell tumors found in areas of the body that are not pigmented or hairless, such as the eyelids, vulva, lips and nose, and resemble scabs. They are due to lesions caused by ultraviolet radiation due to sun exposure and if not treated, they can cause major deformities and pain, in addition to spreading to other organs.
  • breast cancer (breast cancer): is a cancerous tumor of the mammary glands and is very common in unsterilized bitches. It is important to note that males can also be affected and the malignancy is much greater. This lump in the dog's belly can be benign, however, it is important to always extract the mass to prevent it from spreading to other tissues and organs.
  • fibrosarcoma: Invasive tumors that grow quickly and are common in large breeds. They can be confused with lipomas, so a good diagnosis is needed.
  • Melanoma: in dogs they are not caused by sun exposure as in humans, and can be benign or malignant and appear as dark lumps on the skin that grow slowly. The most aggressive ones grow in the mouth and limbs.
  • osteosarcomas: bone tumors visually manifested through lumps in the limbs, especially in large male puppies. They need to be surgically removed and, in severe cases, limb amputation may be necessary.

Puppy Lump: Diagnosis

The vet will want to know your dog's full history. When the lump appeared, if it increased, if there were changes in color, size and shape, if you noticed loss of appetite or change in behavior.

In addition to visual inspection of the seed, laboratory methods and additional tests are needed to determine which type of seed it is and which treatment is the most indicated:

  • Aspiration cytology (aspiration of contents through needle and syringe)
  • Impression (touch a microscope slide to the lump if it is ulcerated or fluid)
  • Biopsy (collection of tissue sample or removal of the entire lump)
  • X-ray and/or ultrasound (to see if more organs are affected)
  • Computed tomography (CAT) or magnetic resonance (MR) (in case of suspected malignant tumors and metastases)

Dog Lump: Treatment

Once your pet's diagnosis has been confirmed, the next step is to discuss all treatment options. The treatment depends onseriousness of the situation. While certain lumps in the dog's body do not need treatment and regress on their own, others will need more attention. The veterinarian will indicate how to proceed, which medications to use and which possible and alternative therapies.

It is very important that if a malignant tumor, so be it removed to prevent it from spreading and affecting other organs, causing serious consequences. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy is usually recommended after the tumor is removed to prevent the tumor from reappearing. Even though it's not evil, the surgical removal Or the cryosurgery (where extremely cold liquid nitrogen is used to remove superficial skin lesions) are the most common and effective methods of healing.

Often times in bitches neutering is recommended to avoid the risk of breast cancer and, if they arise lumps in the belly of the bitch, the recommended is to remove them.

If the lump is not removed because it does not present any imminent danger, it must be regularly watch out for changes that may arise.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Dog Lump: What Can It Be?, we recommend that you enter our Skin Problems section.