When we humans discover an unusual bump or lump on the skin, it’s usually cause for concern. You’ll make an appointment to see a doctor, have the lump looked at, and possibly allow them to take a biopsy for further analysis. Because of this medical process, we’re able to catch serious conditions like melanoma and carcinoma, and even identify more benign conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema. Early detection and diagnosis save countless human lives each year.
When you look at how important testing lumps and bumps is for humans, it starts to become clear that we should be doing the same for our pets. In this medical guide, we’ll explain why it’s important to have all lumps and bumps on your pet tested by a professional, list the diseases and health conditions that skin examinations can diagnose and prevent, and offer first steps for pet owners looking to take the best possible care of their furry friends.
Why Do Pets Need Skin Checks?
Most cats and dogs are covered in a thick layer of fur, making it difficult to identify skin issues at a glance. This means that if there is a problem, it could potentially be left unchecked for weeks, months, or even years. Because your pet’s fur could be hiding harmful parasites, painful rashes, or hazardous growths and abnormalities, it’s vital that pet owners add regular skin checks to their pet care routine.
Not all skin issues are inherently harmful. Some may only affect your pet cosmetically; these are benign lumps that don’t spread or become cancerous. However, if there is a serious health concern underneath the skin, then time is of the essence. The sooner you’re able to positively identify a worrying skin condition, the sooner your vet can begin treating the issue, potentially saving your pet a lot of pain and stress, and ensuring they can live as long and happy a life as possible.
What Types of Lumps and Bumps Can Pets Get?
There’s a wide variety of growths, lumps, bumps, and other irregularities that can develop on the skin of a cat or dog. Most of the time, the only way to identify a bump for certain is to have it tested via a biopsy.
To start, we’ll look at the most benign skin lumps a vet might spot on your pet. These conditions are not especially hazardous, but can cause discomfort or infection:
- Cysts: A hollow, non-cancerous growth that may contain solid or liquid material. They are not inherently harmful, however they can grow or become infected. Cysts can be surgically removed or may go away on their own.
- Warts: Like humans, animals can get warts, which while usually harmless are often recommended to be removed in order to prevent the pet from gnawing at them.
- Infected hair follicles: Animals can get this condition just like humans. These infections tend to clear up either on their own or with the help of antibiotics.
While these skin conditions are important to diagnose and treat, they don’t present a major health risk. The following conditions are considered more troubling to animal medical experts:
- Benign cancerous growths: Benign cancers do not metastasize (spread throughout the body), but they can continue to grow to large sizes, meaning they usually need to be removed.
- Malignant cancerous growths: Malignant lumps can spread throughout the body, putting the health of your pet at risk. They must be removed promptly, along with other treatments, to prevent the spread of cancer.
- Tumors: There are many kinds of tumors that pets can develop, including mammary gland tumors, cutaneous lymphosarcoma, malignant melanoma, mast cell tumors (mastocytoma), and more. Different tumors carry different risk factors and treatments, but all of them should be addressed by an expert as soon as possible.
The latter three conditions are much more rare than cysts, warts, and infections. If they do develop, the best thing you can do is catch them early on and get your pet seen by a trusted veterinarian promptly.
How Your Veterinarian Will Diagnose
When growths, lumps, bumps, etc. are identified your veterinarian may recommend a few ways to arrive at a diagnosis:
- Fine needle aspirate (FNA): This is a simple process that can usually be done during the appointment. A small amount of freezing is applied over the affected area and a small needle is inserted in the suspected tissue growth. The microscopic cells are captured in the needle and then transferred onto a slide. A pathologist will be able to diagnose the condition based on what the captured cells appear to be.
- Incisional biopsy: This procedure usually requires some sedation as it involves cutting into the affected abnormal tissue and taking a small representative piece. This tissue sample is sent to the laboratory for a diagnosis. Your pet will need to be fasted for this procedure and some pre sedation diagnostics will likely be required.
- Excisional biopsy: This is the most involved procedure and can often be curative. An excisional biopsy is performed under general anesthesia. The entire abnormal growth along with some surrounding healthy tissue is removed surgically. This excised tissue is sent to the laboratory for testing and diagnosed by a pathologist.
Your veterinary team can assist you in making the best choice for your pet as each procedure provides distinct advantages.
How Careful Skin Checks Help Your Pet’s Health
Learning about malignant tumors and other serious health concerns can feel scary for pet owners. However, by making regular, diligent skin checks a part of your typical pet’s check-up routine, you dramatically lower your pet’s risk of developing a more serious condition and health risks. When we catch skin abnormalities early on, the prognosis is much better for pets, giving us the opportunity to remove malignant growths and perform other treatments.
Reading about some of these treatments can be an upsetting thought for pet owners. Thankfully, with the advent of modern medical science for animals, we are able to use these medicines and procedures as tools to safeguard the health of your pet, helping to keep them safe, happy, and comfortable. Depending on the diagnosis of a lump or a bump, treatment may include:
- Antibiotics: If the skin condition is determined to be a simple infection, antibiotics will be prescribed to help the infected site return to normal.
- Anti-inflammatories: These medicines are used in less serious skin conditions to reduce swelling and discomfort, promoting the healing process.
- Surgical removal: Wherever possible, vets will work to remove worrying growths from the body before they get a chance to spread.
- Chemotherapy: Special medications/drugs are used to stop the reproduction of cancerous cells. This is often used as a precautionary treatment after removing a growth or in combination with other treatments.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation is used to halt the spread of rapidly growing tumors and invasive growths, helping to save lives. It’s often used in combination with surgery and chemotherapy.
Once it’s part of your routine, performing a skin check is a straightforward, easy process. Stroke against the ‘grain’ of your pet’s fur (i.e., starting at the tail and moving towards the head), doing your best to look at and feel the skin along the whole body. If you notice any bumps, lumps, discolouration, or other abnormalities, note the exact location and take a picture. From here, schedule an appointment with your vet to have them take a look.
Your veterinarian will inspect the skin and, if needed, perform a biopsy to find out what the problem is. From here, they can advise you on the treatments that your pet needs, whether it’s a simple prescription or a more involved medical procedure. If you’ve managed to catch the issue early on, the treatment is far more likely to be successful, meaning your pet can soon get back to being their happy, healthy self.
We know that no pet owner wants to discover a troubling lump or bump on their beloved furry friend. By prioritizing regular skin checks, learning the conditions that pets can develop, and keeping in close contact with your vet when you find something unusual, you’re giving your furry friend the best chance possible to continue to live comfortably.
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