Discovering an unfamiliar bump while stroking your dog or grooming your cat can quickly set alarm bells ringing. While many lumps are nothing to worry about, their appearance alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
In the latest instalment of SoGlos’s Ask the Gloucestershire vets series, the team at Regency Vets, founded by veterinary surgeons Dr Alex Hewett and Dr Olivia Crowe, answers common questions about lumps and bumps – from what happens during an investigation to the simple check owners can do at home.
What are the most common lumps and bumps you see in cats and dogs – and are most harmless?
In dogs, the most common are fatty lumps, cysts and warts. These are generally harmless, and we usually leave them alone unless they start to bother your pet.
We also see histiocytomas, which are benign, button-like pink growths. They’re most common in young dogs, although they can appear at any age, and often disappear on their own.
The most common more serious lumps we see in dogs are mast cell tumours, which arise from cells involved in allergic responses in the skin. These lumps tend to be pink, raised and hairless, and their behaviour can vary considerably – some are less aggressive, while others can be very aggressive.
Lumps are less common in cats. They can develop cysts and benign basal cell tumours, but we also see more worrying growths, such as squamous cell carcinomas on the ear tips of white-coated cats, caused by UV exposure.
What should owners look out for when they discover a new lump? Can you tell whether it’s harmless just by looking at it?
There are certain characteristics that make us more concerned, but we can’t reliably tell whether a lump is harmless just by looking at it. There are always exceptions.
We’d advise getting a lump checked urgently if it’s growing quickly, feels firm or is fixed to the tissue underneath, rather than moving freely.
Other warning signs include a lump that is pink and raised, hairless or ulcerated – which might look crusty or scabby. It’s also important to seek urgent advice if you discover a lump and your pet is unwell.
Even if a new lump doesn’t have these characteristics, let your vet know so they can check it for you.
How do you investigate a lump – and will a pet usually need sedation?
At Regency Vets, we usually start with a fine needle aspirate. This involves using a tiny needle to collect a few cells from the lump, which we put onto a slide and examine under a microscope.
It’s quick, and most pets don’t need sedation. Often, this gives us a clear answer.
Sometimes we need to take a biopsy instead, where a small piece of tissue is sent to a laboratory for examination. This provides more information, but does require sedation or a general anaesthetic.
Are some pets more prone to developing lumps than others?
Dogs generally develop more lumps than cats, and the risk increases with age.
Some breeds are also more prone to particular types of growth. Persian cats, for example, are more susceptible to basal cell tumours, while boxers, shar peis and golden retrievers are more prone to mast cell tumours.
If a lump does need treatment, what are the options – and why does early diagnosis matter?
Cysts and fatty lumps can usually be monitored, unless they’re causing problems.
For cancerous lumps, surgery is often needed. If we’re concerned that a lump could behave aggressively, we remove it with a margin of healthy tissue around it.
For certain cancers, we may also consider chemotherapy or radiotherapy if there’s a risk of them spreading internally or growing back at the surgical site, although we don’t recommend these treatments frequently.
Early diagnosis means we can remove smaller lumps with smaller operations. It gives us a better chance of removing the lump completely and can reduce the risk of cancer spreading to internal organs.
Should owners regularly check their pets for lumps at home – and what’s the best way to do it?
We’d recommend running your hands over your pet from head to toe once every couple of weeks.
Imagine your hands are covered in paint – by the time you’ve finished, your pet should be covered too. That way, you’re less likely to miss a spot.
If you notice anything new, just let us know and we can check it for you.
What’s the one thing you’d most like Gloucestershire pet owners to remember about lumps and bumps?
If you can’t tell whether a lump is harmless, neither can we until we investigate it. A quick sample will often give us the answer.
Most lumps turn out to be nothing to worry about, so if you find something new, don’t wait and worry – let your vet check it.
If it’s something we can leave alone, we will. If it does need treatment, finding out early gives your pet the best chance of a good outcome.
For more information about investigating lumps and bumps, or other pet services available at Regency Vets, visit regencyvets.com.
