My Dog Has Bumps under Her Fur. What to do?

There isn’t quite like the feeling of joy that you get when you hug your dog or curl up on the couch with it. It is a time when your dog feels connected to you and relishes being in your presence. It truly feels amazing but sometimes, your euphoria can be disturbed by certain occurrences. By that, we mean that what if you felt a bump on your dog’s skin while you are on the couch? Or when you are bathing it or performing any other activity? The first reaction would be of dread, like where did this bump come from, is it new, it is harmful, or where did you originally feel it under your dog’s fur?

All of these questions lead to an ultimate doubt, that nettles you persistently, and that is whether if this lump is an indicator of cancer or not? You are immediately plagued with visions of other horrifying ailments as well. But, let’s be clear, none of your diagnoses are worth any salt unless they are vetted through proper research or from your veterinarian.

Most of the time, these lumps are nothing more than fatty tumors. They aren’t cancerous and are mostly harmless. It is also great to know that these lumps are rarely malignant, in such that they can be harmful under fewer than half of such cases. But, the appearance of malignant and benign lumps is almost the same. So, it makes telling them apart quite difficult.

So, if you want to learn more about these lumps and what they might be, then keep reading. We have gathered all the relevant information on this topic as follows for your convenience. Go ahead and peruse away:

Types of bumps and lumps

There are various types of bumps and lumps and you must learn about them, for your dog’s sake. These can be listed as follows

Fatty Tumors

These are the most common types of lumps to appear on our dog’s skin. These usually manifest in middle-aged and older dogs. They can be found on the rib area commonly but can appear on any other body part as well. They are a normal occurrence in aging dogs. While these lumps can appear in any breed, regardless of physique, the odds of overweight and obese dogs developing them readily are significantly higher.

Sebaceous Cyst

This lump is an oil gland on your dog’s skin that becomes blocked. It appears like a pimple and upon bursting, a pasty white substance oozes out of them.

Warts

Warts are usually the result of a viral infection in dogs. They appear around the mouth of dogs, especially if they are young. They are nothing to worry about if your dog is young since they will disappear by themselves. However, older dogs might require surgery for removal.

Abscess

An abscess is the accumulation of pus under the skin. Most of the time, an abscess is formed due to an infection. Also, a bite from an insect or other animal may cause an abscess in dogs as well.

Mast Cell Tumor

This is a form of skin cancer that is most common in dogs. Breeds like Boxers, Labradors, schnauzers, and beagles are the most susceptible when it comes to this tumor.

A Vet’s Role

The most efficient way to determine the cause and nature of these lumps is to consult a vet. You should check for rapid growth, swelling pus, redness, an opening, etc. under your dog’s fur before taking it to the vet. If any of these symptoms appear, then you shouldn’t waste any time in making that appointment with your vet. Also, don’t treat the lumps in specific areas like paws, face, etc. should also not be treated lightly either.

Your veterinarian will probably as you about the following things in regards to the lumps:

• Whether if the lumps materialized suddenly or after some time
• The color, size, and shape of the lumps and whether if they changed or not
• If your dog’s behavior, energy level, or appetite changed or not

The vet will use a needle to remove some of the cells from the lump. He will then examine these cells under a microscope to determine whether if it is a fatty tumor, malignant or otherwise. Mostly, a vet will be able to tell right away the nature and type of a lump. But, if the analysis is complicated or difficult, then the vet can send a tissue sample for a more detailed biopsy. You will get the results after a few days and it will be determined whether if the lump is cancerous or not. The vet will then suggest surgery for removing these lumps from your dog’s body. However, in the worst-case scenario, the lumps might spread to other parts of your pet’s body. Under such circumstances, your dog might end up needing chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or even both of them.

It is integral that you remain vigilant if your dog develops any lumps. Now, you might get your dog tested and the lumps in question might turn out to be benign. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that you should relax or let your guard down. Keep a close eye on your dog and check if any new lumps or bumps appear.

If your four-legged friend has a lot of lumps on its body, then you can ask the vet to make a chart for keeping a record of the locations and sizes of these lumps. This makes it easier to keep track of them and determine whether if any new ones appear in other parts of the body as well. This is quite easy and is something that you can do by yourself. The most facilitating and convenient time to check your dog for lumps is when you are grooming it. We recommend that you get to know your dog’s body more readily and effectively. This will make you sensitive to the slightest changes in its body and you will then be able to better take care of it.