Lumps On My Dog-What Are They?

MCT is usually easy to identify under the microscope by taking a sample of cells with a needle from the lesion. Once identified, surgery is the first best treatment.

Sometime cells can become cancerous and develop into mast cell tumors. What may appear to be a simple skin wart, tag of fatty tissue or lump may in fact be a mast cell tumor,as such can be impossible to diagnose by just observation. The majority of animals that develop a MCT are middle aged to older pets but it is possible to see them in dogs as young as six months.

Hand manipulation of a dogs tumor some times releases histamines that will cause local swelling. The mass may be described by the owner as going up or down in size over a 24 hour period.The tumor can range from a grade 1 tumor that should be helped or cured by a surgery operation.However the more aggressive grade 3 tumors are more likely to spread to other areas on the dog known by vets as Metastases.The vet will identify this by taking a sample of cells with a needle from the tumor area and examine this under a microscope.

When the vet can identify the tumor surgery is nearly always recommend.The vet will remove a fairly large portion of the area tissue both around and underneath to make sure of complete removal of the tumor.Some cases might need further surgery or chemotherapy or radiation treatment to make sure all cancer cells are dead.

After Removal the vet will send the tissue to the laboratory for Histopathology. For those MCT that have already spread the prognosis is not always the best. The goal of treatment for these dogs is to attempt to shrink the tumors with chemotherapy and to maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible by controlling the symptoms of mast cell present in the body-

All Dog breeds are prone to certain problems-early detection of lumps and tumors are vital for your dogs health.The lump could be nothing more than a fatty tissue that your vet will guide you to remove it or look further if he suspects a Mast cell tumor.

Some tumors are more aggressive on certain breeds such as Boxers, Stafford-shire Bull Terriers, Pugs. Rhodesian Ridge-backs, Boston Terriers and Weimaraners.One breed especially that seems to get tumors is Sharpels.Tumors and lumps can be present for years,just watch if they grow and spread in a short time.

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