One of the scariest health problems a dog owner might someday come across is finding a lump on their pet’s body where there wasn’t one before. Looking up dog tumor pictures and trying to diagnose your dog yourself will quickly lead you to assume the worst: cancer. But all lumps aren’t necessarily cancerous even when they look just like other tumor pictures. A sudden new lump on a dog usually means one of two things: mast cell tumor (cancerous) or oil cyst and other types of cysts (non-cancerous). It’s important to understand the differences between the two types, and what pet owners should do in either case.
Mast cell tumors (MCT) are malignant tumors which generally need to be surgically removed or treated. According to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine these cancerous tumors are common in dogs and are found in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and overall appearances. Pictures of dog tumors confirm that MCT can look like anything from small white lumps to large, red, hardened masses. Early detection is the best prevention from MCT becoming aggressive and fatal. Because these cancerous tumors like to spread throughout the body, surgical removal is usually necessary, but radiation is sometimes used when surgery is not an option. Courteous Canines, LLC writes that tissue samples from any questionable lumps are removed by a veterinarian prior to any other form of treatment to perform a biopsy and diagnose a lump as MCT.
Sebaceous cysts, or oil cysts, are small bumps found under the skin that are caused by blocked pores from hair follicles, dirt, and oil. Sebaceous cysts can also be common in dogs but unlike MCT they are non-cancerous and benign. Unfortunately, sometimes a cyst can look like cancerous tumors, and a veterinarian will need to perform a biopsy to rule out malignant cells. According to VetInfo, occasionally a veterinarian will suggest having a cyst removed surgically if it has ruptured to decrease the risk of infection.
If you believe your dog could have mast cell tumors or cysts you’ll want to get a final diagnosis from your dog’s veterinarian. Finding a dog tumor or cyst can be a scary experience, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of the world. Even if your dog is diagnosed with cancerous mast cell tumors there are different options at varying price points that can help ease pain and increase survival rates. Remember not to make an ultimate diagnosis based off dog tumor pictures, instead get a professional opinion and save yourself the potentially unnecessary grief.