My dog keeps getting lumps and bumps!
Here's how you can help monitor their skin and catch changes early.
If you have an old furry friend, you might have noticed a new bulge under the skin here or a little blip there. Pets, just like us, can develop lumps for various reasons. The good news is that many of these lumps are harmless, like fatty deposits (called lipomas), but sometimes, they can be more serious, like cancers. And here's the tricky part – not even the most experienced vet can diagnose a lump based on looks alone. Each lump, big or small, needs a little investigation, usually with a needle or tissue biopsy, to find out exactly what it is.
Ideally, we’d love to check out every new lump or any changes to existing ones as soon as they appear. But we know that’s not always practical. We also know that, during consultations, it's tough to go through every inch of your pet's fur, especially if they have thick or long coats.
This is where you, as a pet owner, become a vital part of the team. By regularly checking your pet’s skin at home, you can help us catch changes early. This gives us the best chance to assess and treat any issues before they become bigger problems.
How You Can Help Monitor Your Pet's Skin
Create a Routine: Make it part of your day – maybe when you're grooming your pet or even just relaxing on the couch. Running your hands over your pet’s body not only feels good for them, but it also helps you notice any bumps, lumps, or thickened areas that feel different.
Check Everywhere: Don’t forget the less obvious spots, like under their collar, between their toes, behind the ears, and in the armpits and groin. Lumps can hide in these spots, so a little extra attention goes a long way.
Keep a Record: Found a lump? Note its size, shape, and location. A photo with a ruler or coin for scale can be super helpful. Even better, if you’ve got a pair of callipers from your local hardware or dollar shop, they can help you get precise measurements. Keeping track helps you see if anything changes over time, and it’s a big help for your vet too. You can even use a body map to mark the spots.
Report Changes Promptly: If you spot a lump changing in size, shape, or texture, or if new ones pop up, don’t wait until your next routine visit. Give your vet a call and get it checked out. Early action can make all the difference.
What to Expect at the Vet
If you bring your pet in for a lump check, we’ll likely perform a fine needle aspiration (FNA). This quick and minimally invasive procedure lets us take a tiny sample of cells from the lump to figure out whether it’s something to worry about or not.
Remember, early detection of any unusual growths can have a big impact on your pet's health, especially when it comes to serious conditions like cancer. We vets are here to help, but we also rely on you to keep an eye on things between visits. You’re the first line of defence in keeping your pet healthy and happy!
Will chemotherapy make my pet sick?
It's better for our pets than you might expect.
When discussing chemotherapy with clients, concerns about side effects are by far the most common, and understandably so. Human chemotherapy patients often endure significant challenges during their treatment, so it’s natural to assume that dogs and cats might face similar experiences.
As veterinary oncologists, our approach to chemotherapy for pets is different from what you might expect. In human medicine, high doses of chemotherapy are used to aggressively attack cancer cells. In contrast, our first priority in veterinary medicine is preserving the quality of life for our patients. Therefore, chemotherapy for cats and dogs is carefully calibrated to minimise adverse effects while maximising its anti-cancer effects.
What Are the Side Effects?
Chemotherapy works by destroying actively dividing cells, which is a feature of cancer. However, it also affects healthy cells that naturally divide rapidly in certain parts of the body, leading to some collateral damage. This is why chemotherapy can sometimes make patients feel unwell.
The Gastrointestinal System: The lining of the stomach and intestines is constantly renewing itself. When chemotherapy affects these cells, it can lead to nausea. It’s important to remember that just because a veterinary patient isn’t vomiting, it doesn’t mean they aren’t feeling nauseous. Signs of nausea can be subtle, such as being slower to finish meals or appearing quieter than usual. Fortunately, anti-nausea medications can effectively ease these symptoms, allowing your pet to receive higher doses of treatment without a negative impact on their well-being.
The Bone Marrow: This is where red and white blood cells are produced. If chemotherapy affects the bone marrow, it can lead to anaemia, infection, or blood clotting abnormalities. Often, these issues don’t show obvious symptoms, so regular blood tests are performed to monitor blood cell levels. It’s crucial to ensure that a patient has a healthy blood cell count before administering chemotherapy, which is why a blood count test is conducted prior to each treatment.
Fur: The good news is that it’s rare for a dog or cat undergoing chemotherapy to lose all their fur. Unlike human hair, animal hair follicles typically aren’t constantly dividing. While some breeds might look a bit thinner in areas with friction, such as under collars or harnesses, it’s highly unusual for them to lose all their fur.
While chemotherapy does carry some risks of side effects, they are unusual as a result of our approach to minimise these as much as possible. We prioritise your pet's comfort and quality of life, and with careful monitoring and supportive care, most pets continue to enjoy life during and after treatment.