Noticing Lumps and Bumps on Your Dog
By Diane L. Mechlinski at June 10, 2024 | 8:15 am | Print
If you own a small dog, and you’re anything like me, then no doubt your pet is on your lap while you’re driving your car or he/she is often cuddled in your lap while you’re watching TV, or while you’re lovingly petting them. This is something they delight in, and I admit, it’s something that gives me a good feeling, too. It may also be a time when you can notice bumps, lumps or cuts your pet may have acquired.
As I’ve written here before, that I have a Bichon Frise named Gracie. The veterinarian informed me that Bichon Frise’s are prone to acquiring warts as they age. These warts are usually not a problem, other than the groomer needs to know about them and be careful with those areas. I was told they can sometimes acquire many warts while some Bichons get but a few. As with anything, it depends on the dog. So far, my Gracie has only a handful of little warts scattered along her back, hardly noticeable.
However, a few months ago, I noticed a bump along the top area of her hind right leg. At first, I thought it might be the beginnings of a new wart. I watched that area, suspicious that it didn’t feel quite like the raggedness of a wart. It was smoother, although at that point in time, about the same small size as her other warts.
After a couple months, I noticed the bump became significantly larger, more red in color (while warts remain pinkish) – this all began to worry me. I also noticed a dark point in the center of the bump. I even wondered whether something might have bitten her … but, no, that couldn’t be – this bump had been forming for some time. Not wanting to risk continuing guessing or wondering any further, with a deep worry in my heart, I made an appointment with Gracie’s vet. Good news or bad – I had to know what was going on. I love my Gracie and she’s my responsibility.
As it turned out, the vet assured me immediately that I had done the right thing in coming to check out this bump when it worsened in size, shape and color. As he spread the fur around the area to get a better look at the actual entire bump, blood along with another fluid began to ooze from the site. He told me right off that this appeared to be a cyst that Gracie had – a cyst which could at times go away on its own, but in some cases, just doesn’t. He drained the area, gave Gracie two weeks’ worth of antibiotics and tested the fluid to determine whether the cyst was benign. Within minutes, I was told it was benign. We were to continue the antibiotics and return in 10 days.
After Gracie’s procedure and completion of antibiotics, the area where her cyst was is now clear and she is romping about, happy and healthy, as all our beloved pet dogs should be. As with our own selves, early detection regarding our pets’ health is crucial.
