Last fall, I noticed two lumps on my beloved pal, my sweet Lab mix, Maxine. Fearing the worst, I consulted clinicians at the University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Approximately 30 percent of all tumors found in dogs and cats occur on the skin. There are a couple of important questions owners should ask themselves when they find suspect lumps on their pets. Answering these questions may help your veterinarian evaluate the seriousness of the lump's presence.
Lumps are often benign accumulations of fat, known as lipomas.
In general, many benign lumps may grow slowly or not at all, and remain unchanged for many months to even years. However, many malignant lumps grow rapidly and may infiltrate into the underlying tissue. We use the same needles that are used to give vaccines, and we just extract a few cells and take a look at them under a microscope. Many skin tumors, benign or malignant, can be cured with surgery. Diagnostic tests may be needed to determine whether your pet's lump is a manifestation of a more widespread disease.