That lump could be one of many things. Some of the possibilities include an abscess, cyst, or a minor infection. Think the canine equivalent to a pimple for the latter. Generally speaking, all of these things are easy to treat. Unfortunately, the lump could also be a tumour, and while many tumours are benign, others are cancerous.
Abscesses are a collection of fluid, usually pus, trapped beneath the skin. The feel of them tends to vary from liquid-like to hard and they can secrete an unpleasant discharge. When suffering from an abscess, your dog will likely feel some degree of pain. Treatment will require your veterinary surgeon to drain the abscess of its contents, and your dog will be put on oral or topical antibiotics. Multiple trips may be necessary to ensure that the abscess is completely drained.
Sebaceous cysts are similar to abscesses, but they often need to be surgically removed in order to prevent them from reoccurring.
If your dog's lump is small and has come to a head like a pimple, then treat it with hydrogen peroxide and a topical antibiotic ointment. Do not try to extract the infection yourself. Take your dog to the vet if the area is still red after a few days. It might be something else.
Finally, if the lump feels hard, deep and misshapen, and if doesn't drain at all, you might be dealing with a tumour. Tumours that are on the soft side of hard tend to be made up of fat cells, not cancer cells, and are usually benign. Lumps that feel almost rock-like are highly potential cancerous tumours and should be checked out as soon as possible. Treatment for benign and malignant tumours almost always involves excision, and when these tumours are caught early, there should be less risk of them returning.
There are other causes of lumps in your dog's skin, but these are the most common.
Abscesses are a collection of fluid, usually pus, trapped beneath the skin. The feel of them tends to vary from liquid-like to hard and they can secrete an unpleasant discharge. When suffering from an abscess, your dog will likely feel some degree of pain. Treatment will require your veterinary surgeon to drain the abscess of its contents, and your dog will be put on oral or topical antibiotics. Multiple trips may be necessary to ensure that the abscess is completely drained.
Sebaceous cysts are similar to abscesses, but they often need to be surgically removed in order to prevent them from reoccurring.
If your dog's lump is small and has come to a head like a pimple, then treat it with hydrogen peroxide and a topical antibiotic ointment. Do not try to extract the infection yourself. Take your dog to the vet if the area is still red after a few days. It might be something else.
Finally, if the lump feels hard, deep and misshapen, and if doesn't drain at all, you might be dealing with a tumour. Tumours that are on the soft side of hard tend to be made up of fat cells, not cancer cells, and are usually benign. Lumps that feel almost rock-like are highly potential cancerous tumours and should be checked out as soon as possible. Treatment for benign and malignant tumours almost always involves excision, and when these tumours are caught early, there should be less risk of them returning.
There are other causes of lumps in your dog's skin, but these are the most common.
