You\u2019re sitting on the couch, watching TV and petting your beloved furry friend when you feel it\u2026 a lump! Should you have it checked out or just ignore it? I\u2019m here to tell you that you should always have any lump, bump, growth, or mass checked by your veterinarian.\u00a0 It\u2019s important to document the characteristics of the growth including size, shape, color, and location so that any changes in these characteristics can be monitored. \u00a0To help diagnose a mass, the first step is often an FNA or \u201cfine needle aspirate\u201d. This procedure involves taking a sterile needle, inserting it into the mass to collect some cells, and then placing these cells on a slide. We stain the slide and then look at the cells under the microscope to try and figure out the origin of the mass. \u00a0Some masses don\u2019t exfoliate well, meaning it is hard to collect cells on FNA and therefore we are unable to diagnose the mass. In these cases, we may recommend biopsying a piece of the mass or completely removing the mass via surgery and then sending it to a pathologist for biopsy.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to classify the mass, either via FNA or biopsy, so we know how to proceed with treatment. \u00a0For example, skin tags, sebaceous cysts, and lipomas are all examples of benign lesions that do not necessarily require any intervention. Surgical removal of benign lesions is cosmetic, or recommended if the lump bothers the pet (i.e. it is bleeding, becomes infected, is located on the body in an area that affects mobility, or causes pain and discomfort). \u00a0If a mass is malignant this means it is cancerous and likely to spread to other parts of the body. Some examples of malignant neoplasms include mast cell tumors, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma to name a few. The treatment depends on the biologic behavior of the tumor. Some cancers are curative with complete surgical removal of the mass while others require radiation and chemotherapy treatment.<\/p>\n
In summary, we cannot diagnose a lump or bump simply by looking at it with our eyes. There are a number of potential diagnoses for a lump and having it evaluated is very important in establishing a treatment plan. Not all masses are the same so the next time you\u2019re relaxing with your pet on the couch and feel a lump, tell your veterinarian!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You\u2019re sitting on the couch, watching TV and petting your beloved furry friend when you feel it\u2026 a lump! Should you have it checked out or just ignore it? I\u2019m here to tell you that you should always have any lump, bump, growth, or mass checked by your veterinarian.\u00a0 It\u2019s important to document the characteristics […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pet-health-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\n