Quirky Lump Problem
Sometimes a lump on a dog is just a lump. The lumps have fancy names, but it really doesn’t matter to the dog’s health or lifespan. Sometimes quirky problems can arise as a result of a lump…
Sammy grew lumps and bumps more than most Labrador-Beagle mixes. His black fur had faded grey over the years, but he still had his wag and loved to go for walks every morning.
Four years ago, Sammy suddenly grew a lump on the end of the left side of his nose, just above where the black leather cobblestone part of the nose began. Doc Truli diagnosed a mast cell tumor on the end of Sammy’s nose. As you know from reading VirtuaVet, mast cell tumors can be very, very nasty. Usually, the longer they stay on or in the body, the more they grow and metastasize, often killing the dog.
That gray area on the right side of the picture is the mast cell tumor on Sammy's nose.
“Metastasize means spread,” says Doc Truli,”Medical terminology complicates the obvious. Metastatic cancer is – spreading body stuff – pure and simple. Obviously, stuff where it’s not supposed to be is bad. That’s the basis of why cancer is bad. Stuff growing where it’s not supposed to grow is bad for you!”
Sammy’s family decided, four years ago, that they did not want surgery to remove the mast cell tumor on his nose. How lucky Sammy is to be alive today!
Sammy also grew about 10 other lumps. The other ten where benign lumps, meaning they only grow at their original site and do not spread to other parts of the body. If your dog has a lump, you hope it is benign.
Something happened and Sammy’s benign lump on his inner left knee started to bleed. And bleed. A lot!
Doc Truli held pressure against the lump for five minutes straight (no peeking!) and examined the resulting pink area.
Raised red soft lump with black skin over half of it filets and bleeds.
“Sammy cut this lump a quarter of the way through. If he leaves it alone and doesn’t lick it, it might just heal on its own,” said Doc Truli.
The actual cellular components of each lump remain a mystery unless the lump is removed and analyzed under a microscope. Certain types of lumps heal well. Cancerous lumps may not heal properly; they are not biologically equal to normal skin.
Sammy’s lump healed right up!
Doc Truli still wishes to remove the mast cell tumor on Sammy’s nose. Sammy’s family still says no. So far, at fourteen-years-old, and counting, they must be doing something right!
