Help! Found A Lump On The Dog… Now What?
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: August 5th, 2019
Summary
Dr. Demian Dressler, best-selling author of “The Dog Cancer Survival Guide”, explains exactly what to do when you find a lump on your dog.
One of the most common comments that readers post on this blog goes something like this: “Help! Found a lump on the dog… What do I do now? The lump is (description) and is on my dog’s (body part). Is it anything to worry about?”
It helps to widen back and look at lumps in dogs generally to help clarify this topic. What’s the number one cause of dog death, if we exclude euthanasia? Dog cancer. How does dog cancer most commonly look to the naked eye? It looks like a lump.
When we find a lump on a dog, this should be a red flag. A certain reaction should be happening in the mind of the dog lover. First, both veterinarians and dog guardians should know the number one most dangerous health problem that exists for dogs, the most likely problem that could take a dog away… cancer.
We have been negligent in spreading this information to dog guardians. And by “we”, I include the group I am a member of: veterinarians. Vets should have this information and be spreading it in the same way we talk about parvo and heartworm disease.
For some reason we don’t. Perhaps it is because bringing up cancer in a discussion feels a little out of bounds since we don’t want to upset our clients. Or it could be that there has not been a marketing push like there is for parvo vaccination or for heartworm disease. Since we have access to preventatives in these cases, pharmaceutical companies make a point to help spread the word about these diseases.
This is not wrong, of course. Why not protect a dog from a problem when it is prudent to do so? (The vaccination debate is discussed elsewhere…)
So why would a guardian wonder what to do if a lump popped up? Clearly, if a woman found a lump in her breast, she would most likely be at the doctor’s promptly. Why? Because there has been enough press on breast cancer that finding the lump would raise a red flag, sparking the thought that breast cancer happens.
But in veterinary medicine, there is a mental disconnect between lumps in dogs and cancer, in spite of the statistics.
The answer to the question of what to do if a lump is found on a loved dog is this: go to your vet and get it checked! Get it aspirated, get it biopsied, get the data you need!
Can a vet diagnose a lump by looking at it? Very occasionally, but usually not. Can a vet diagnose a lump by squeezing it? Very occasionally, but usually not.
One of my pet peeves (sorry, bad pun) is the diagnosis of a benign fatty tumor based on looking and touching alone. Soft, squishy bumps under the skin could indeed be harmless lipomas. But, they could also be dangerous growths like mast cell tumors, hemangiopericytomas, subcutaneous blood filled hemangiosarcomas, or liposarcomas. These all feel soft and squishy.
This brings a case to mind. Three weeks ago, a client brought her dog in to have a lump checked out. This had been previously diagnosed as a harmless lipoma at another veterinary hospital. It felt soft and squishy.
A fine needle aspirate was done on the growth at my hospital. I inserted a syringe with a needle in the growth, and pulled back on the plunger. Did fat enter the needle hub, which is what a fatty tumor would yield? No. The syringe filled with blood.
This was no lipoma. Blood filled swellings have their list of possibilities too, but one of them is a hemangiosarcoma under the skin, a malignant cancer. And over the 6 months that this growth had slowly increased in size with nothing done, the mass had swelled to about 4 inches across.
Now we had a big problem to deal with that could have been caught a long time ago.
The bottom line is this: remember the dog cancer statistics. According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, 1 in 3 dogs will contract cancer in their lifetime, and this number increases to 1 in 2 if the dog is more than 10 years of age.
Get dog lumps checked!
For more information on dog lumps, how they are diagnosed, and their complete treatment options, check out The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.
Best,
Dr D
Also see: Lumps On Dogs: When To Get Them Checked By A Veterinarian
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
I have a black lab/mixed Chow who is 14+ years old. Recently we noticed some arthritis in the hind legs with stiffness. He is eating and going to the bathroom fine. Over the last 2 weeks our dog has developed a large hanging sack of fluid on the underside by his peri area. The sack appears to be growing in size. I have taken him to the vet who prescribed antibiotics and pain pills for him which have helped some. I am worried that he is suffering and not sure when to consider the inevitable. My heart is breaking and I don’t want to see him suffer. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Clayton,
I completely understand your situation. You want the very best for Luna but the reality is that everything costs, and you are wise to acknowledge this because it’s very real. Here’s the thing, if you don’t get it checked out, with even a fine needle aspirate, you don’t know what you’re worrying about, or even whether you should worry. Lumps that are on or near the surface of the body are easy for the vet to aspirate, where they draw some fluid from the lump into a needle and look at it under a microscope. una would not have to be sedated for this, it’s pretty simple. Equally, if your vet can completely take the lump away surgically and then biopsy the material, this gives an even better way to diagnose. If you are dealing with cancer, either of these procedures will help you know. If so, there are MANY things you can do to help her without committing to chemotherapy and expensive procedures. If she is happy and healthy otherwise (poor thing to have a perforated lung!) and you are feeding her so well, why don’t you ask your vet for the costs involved with fine needle aspirate, and/or surgical removal. At least you’ll know. The “wait and see” approach isn’t the best, only because if it is something serious, it’s getting worse while you wait. Get prices and information, then you can decide how to proceed. Good luck!
Hello, we know it’s scary when you find something that worries you about your dog’s health. Five years old is nice and young for a strong immune system. There is no way to guess what this lump may be, without going to see your vet. Please make an appointment. If you don’t, you will only spendm ore time worrying, and if the lump is something serious, it will likely get worse. Your vet can diagnose what the problem is, then you’ll know. And guess what? It could be a simple situation with an easy fix. Good luck!
I have a 1&1/2 yr old pitbull. I noticed a marble sized lump on his testicles. i just mated him with another pitbull about 4 days ago. they were together for 3 days and I believe they were ”successfull” 6x. now that he has beenhome I noticed the lump seems slightly larger and now his testicles are bright red and are sagging. this is the 2nd time we have mated him. also he has been very clinging and calm and cuddlywhich is not like him. what is going on?
Our 9 year old mix lab (55lbs) has a soft racketball sized lump on her right upper abdomen, just below her ribs. There is no pain as she lets me push rather hard on the round lump.
This is something we just noticed today but our vet visually inspected an oblong “syst” on her back. This lump is about 1/2″ to 3/4″, is discolored, swells & subsides slightly, and is also not painful for her. His advice was to leave it and if it bothered her he could cut it out simpy.
I hate to acknowledge it but to inform your advice, please know that we cannot afford an involved processes like treating cancer.
She’s eaten healthy grain free, GMO free food/dentals/treats and has had regular check-ups/treatment her whole life. In January 2007 she perforated a lung and a $1500-$2500 agreement/estimate became a nearly $5000 bill. I cannot and will not make that choice again for our family’s financial wellbeing in this situation. However giving up on our Luna in that scenario would be difficult and I want to exhaust every other option.
What should we be expecting? Are there resources or other forms of support or treatment?
My dog Shasta has a ball to the right of his penis. Its not visible but if you feel around you can feel it. He isn’t very old, he is five years old. I am just so scared its cancer because I don’t have any money. Please any advice would be appreciated!
Hi Morgan,
There’s no way to know whether these are simple fatty lumps or something more serious, without a visit to your vet. You can choose to “wait and see” and keep track of their growth by taking pictures of them next to a coin or something similar. But, how will you feel if you wait and in a few months you find out that they are serious problems? If you’re able to go to your vet to get them checked, it’s the safest way. A needle aspirate may be suggested, but a full biopsy, which is taking the lumps out, or at least a part of the lumps, and sending them to the lab, is the best way to determine just what they are. Please check out https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/lumps-on-dogs-when-to-get-them-checked-by-a-veterinarian/ All the best!
Thank you
My 11 year old dog Hershey is @ chocolate lab and has a firm bump on the front and a squishy bump on the side what do I do
Hi Zizou,
So sorry to hear that your pug’s MCT has returned.
I know you’re asking about the odds and how treatable MCTs on the scrotum are. The truth is, every dog is different, and although our brains like to have statistics, your boy is a complete individual. What does your vet say? Is he or she recommending another surgery to get cleaner margins on this new growth? Advising any other treatment?
Is there any evidence that it has metastasized? I’ve attached just a couple of the blogs that discuss MCT here…..
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/metronomic-chemotherapy-for-dogs-with-cancer/#.U0hRDa1dV4U
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/the-oncologists-thoughts-on-mast-cell-tumors/#.U0hR3a1dV4U
If the tumor is still small, your dog is doing well otherwise (eating well, happy etc.) then you have a dog who may be quite happy have further treatment, Are you on the Dog Cancer Diet? Using any supportive nutraceuticals? My best suggestion is to write all your questions down, and have a real good talk with your vet. Forget that your dog is 10 for a moment, clearly see how your dog is in himself. Get the information from your vet. If you’re happy working with him or her, take a breath and you’ll know the right decision. If you feel you don’t have enough answers, find a veterinary oncologist or another vet who has been recommended to you, and ask for another opinion. It’s important to be able to talk frankly with your vet and to both be on board with the decision that you make. Most importantly, talk to that pug of yours. Tell him you’re ready to do whatever he needs, and the look in his eyes will tell you. Good luck. Let us know if we can help at all.
My 10 year old neutered pug (he was neutered only last year) has a MCT on the area where his scrotum used to be. He had a MCT low grade successfully removed last year and 12 months later he got this. I am devastated…we still dont know what the grade is, just got the results back from the needle aspirate. I am petrofied….
The only good thing is that it is very small (less than 5mm) and on the skin and it is very new as I have been checkign him thoroughly. Are scrotum MCTs curable? I mean i have read reports that say that MCTs on the scrotum tend to be more aggressive but more recent ones say that this is not the case. What are your thoughts?