Bumps and lumps in dogs

We all love to cuddle our pets, brushing their coats, giving belly rubs, or simply just affectionately stroking their heads makes our hearts happy and fulfilled. It might be a rare case scenario to observe some bump or lump on our pet’s skin. It is, however, a common occurrence in middle-aged to elderly dogs.

Normal v/s abnormal skin bump

As a pet owner, you may observe bumps and lumps on your pets’ skin at least once in your life. Sometimes, the reason behind a bump formation could be very vague and unexpected. It could be due to an allergic response or due to an infection such as dermatitis.  Some puppies might have excessive tissue growth in some parts of their bodies, which are commonly termed as Nevus or mole and is not at all abnormal. It is commonly observed in all species regardless of age and is not dangerous.

The types of bumps are -

1. Cyst:

The small growth on the skin is a sac-like pocket of membranous tissue that contains fluid, air, or other substances. They can grow almost anywhere on your pets’ bodies or under the skin. The most common cause is blocked sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands secrete oil on the skin surface for protection and lubrication of hair and skin of mammals. Therefore, any reason causing the blockage of these glands can be manifested as a bump on the skin and is usually not dangerous.

2. Abscess:

Bumps on the skin formed due to pus-forming bacteria and usually follow any penetrating wounds on the skin surface due to the introduction of foreign bacterial particles. These are often treated with antibiotics along with other needed therapies.

3. Dermatitis:

Dermatitis can flare up in cases of infections or non-infectious allergic events such as flea-associated dermatitis, etc. in case of mixed bacterial and fungal skin infection, there might be bumps observed on the skin with associated alopecia, itching, and fur loss. In these cases, too, one can occasionally observe bumps on the skin, which are again curable by medical treatment.

4. Lipomas:

These are small raised, bumps on the skin containing fat and can be surgically excised or can be left untouched as they are benign. It is also essential to have these lipoma bumps tested at the earliest, just to be certain.

5. Allergens:

Due to the foreign allergenic antigen being introduced into the skin, there is a bump formation due to localized reaction by inflammatory cells and edema formation for example a bee sting. If your pet gets stung by a bee, there is a local lesion with edema and bump formation. Sometimes, the bump subsides on its own or can be massaged by ice packs. Whereas in severe cases, your pet may show an allergic response to a bee sting, and immediate medical assistance is warranted.

6. Warts:

These are small-sized, cauliflower-like-looking bumps that are caused by a virus known as the papillamavirus. They occur most often in pets with weak immune systems and are commonly found in puppies as they are in their growth phase having a weaker immune system. The papillomavirus-related growths can be surgically excised or left as is since in some cases, these growths can disappear on their own based on the immune response.

Lumps and cancer

No, not all growths or lumps on the body are cancerous. Lumps and bumps can be of different types. Cancerous bumps have a different mechanism of function whereas non-cancerous bumps are more frequently encountered daily. It is best to be checked via diagnostic procedures at the earliest. Detection of these dog lumps at the earliest provides a good prognostic outcome and mostly bumps if deemed cancerous can be surgically treated (+/- chemotherapy) thereby reducing its chances of spreading.

Observe the following lumps and bumps to know if they are cancerous:

1.  Middle-aged or elderly dog

2.  Dullness/anorexia warrants diagnostic tests to rule out different diseases

3.  Dogs’ ancestors/parents/siblings have had a history of cancer

4.  If bumps are increasing in size

5.  If bumps are diffuse or located on different parts of the body

6.  Any change in shape/size/color/consistency of this lumpy growth

7.  For lumps on mammary glands, there is always a chance for it to be cancerous

Cancerous lumps can be of the following types:

1. Liposarcoma:

Lipoma on one hand is a benign raised mass, on the flip side, a liposarcoma is malignant or cancerous. liposarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in fatty tissue. Therefore, any bumps should be tested right away.

2. MCT [Mast Cell Tumour]:

MCT usually can be observed at any site and is frequently observed in older patients. It is associated with the mast cells present in our body.

3. Adenocarcinoma:

These tumors are associated with glands. Mammary Adenocarcinoma is associated with the mammary glands and is observed on the abdomen usually singular in nature or multiple in cases of disease progression. It is linked to hormones and spaying is considered to be a preventive measure against the same. Anal Gland Adenocarcinoma too can be frequently encountered which is associated with the anal glands of dogs.

4. Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

This type of cancer is most commonly observed on pets and is frequently seen in the abdomen region, legs, head, etc. They resemble warts and are cancerous.

Cancerous v/s non-cancerous growths

The veterinarian may prescribe tests such as FNAC or fine-needle aspiration cytology. This test is widely practiced to figure out the cancer status of lumps

The other method is via excisional biopsy wherein the entire lump is surgically removed and sent for histopathology testing which then observes and confirms the cancer status.

For adult non-spayed cats, there is a 90% chance for these growths to come back as malignant. Hence, it’s always a great option to get these lumps checked by a veterinarian at the earliest.

Homeopathy to the best

As we now know, not every bump and lump is dangerous, with better technologies and advanced diagnostics, it is now possible to assess, test, and treat better. It cures the spread of papillomavirus symptoms in any part of the body. Wartgo for pets is the best homeopathy medicine for dogs.

When in doubt, always take a step further, get your pets checked frequently especially when they are older, diagnosing and treating at the earliest phase of disease progression can tremendously help your pets’ in the long run.