Lumps on doggies

My border collie/springer spaniel - my baby, Emma - has had a soft lump about the size of a hazelnut (small size) on her side. She's had this lump for over a year and it has never caused her any pain or problems. The vet felt it last year and said to just keep an eye on it. I felt it a few days ago and it was firmer - but NO bigger. It seems to be moveable,and when the vet felt it again a few days ago he said it felt like an old injury, but to be sure he'd need to anesthesize her and remove it, because it was too firm to do a needle biopsy.

Of course I'm a nervous wreck over this . She is 10 years old but very active and healthy, and acts like a puppy! I hate to put her through this. Anyone know anything about what percentage of lumps are benign? I realize she needs to be still while he's taking this lump off, but does she really need anesthesia? Anybody got any good news lump stories? I could use some support Thanks,

Bathsheba

How old is the dog? As the years go by, lipomas (benign fatty tumors) are common in all breeds. They don't cause problems unless they become a mechanical obstacle. Also, sebeceous gland adenomas occur regularly in breeds that have fairly oily skin. Again, the problems are minimal. If the dog is young, scar tissue is the likely culprit. The biggest factor is that the mass has not gotten any larger in a year. If this is a tumor, it would have to be a damned slow-growing one. Scar tissue is a more reasonable explanation.

bathsheba wrote:

My border collie/springer spaniel - my baby, Emma - has had a soft lump about the size of a hazelnut (small size) on her side. She's had this lump for over a year and it has never caused her any pain or problems. The vet felt it last year and said to just keep an eye on it. I felt it a few days ago and it was firmer - but NO bigger. It seems to be moveable,and when the vet felt it again a few days ago he said it felt like an old injury, but to be sure he'd need to anesthesize her and remove it, because it was too firm to do a needle biopsy.

Of course I'm a nervous wreck over this . She is 10 years old but very active and healthy, and acts like a puppy! I hate to put her through this. Anyone know anything about what percentage of lumps are benign? I realize she needs to be still while he's taking this lump off, but does she really need anesthesia? Anybody got any good news lump stories? I could use some support Thanks,

Bathsheba

I'd get a 2nd opinion if I were you. Yes, the dog will have to be sedated for the Vet to perform the operation. I'm still surprised that the lump can not be subjected to a biopsy.

It's common for dogs to get lumps, and as the dog ages, the frequency of lumps increases.

I hope you have health insurance for your dog, as it's very likely,that your dog's operation(s) and subsequent procedures will be expensive. I know as my late, last poodle had a nasal tumor that grew into his brain and the MRI cost me $2000. The insurance paid $1200 and I had to pay the balance. My dog died 2 months after the MRI, at the age of 11 years.

I now have another poodle and I doubt that I'll ever have my dog subjected to an MRI procedure.


Good luck.

My dog, a boxer, used to get lumps which were called mass or (mast?) cell tumors. They would pull cells (asperate) from the lump and rate the rate of growth is they found it to be cancerous. Hers were always slow-growing and I had them removed as she got them. She was always put under for the procedure.

I'll bet it is a fatty tumor (as per cowdoc). If it is, it is not a problem. You can have the vet aspirate it. This is a very simple and inexpensive procedure where a thin needle is inserted into the mass. It is not painfull and the dog is not anesthitised. The vet looks for fatty tissue in the aspirated needle contents.