You’re giving your pet lots of lovins’; scritches, scratches and drool-inducing strokes, when your hand brushes against something new — a small lump on their neck, back, or belly.
Your heart skips a beat.
“Has that always been there?”
“Is it cancer?”
“Should I panic?”
Take a deep breath — you’re not alone. Lumps and bumps are one of the most common reasons pet parents come in to see us. And we always say: It’s better to check and not worry, than to worry and not check.
Lumps Are Common — But Not Always Simple
Here’s the thing: most pets will develop some kind of lump or bump in their lifetime. Just like humans get moles, cysts, and skin tags, pets do too.
Some common types include:
- Lipomas (fatty tumors – benign and soft)
- Cysts (fluid-filled sacs – often harmless)
- Abscesses (infections that can swell and ooze)
- Warts or skin tags (especially in older pets)
- Insect bites or allergic reactions
And yes, sometimes lumps are tumors — either benign (non-spreading) or malignant (cancerous).
The key? You can’t tell what it is just by looking at it.
“It Doesn’t Seem to Bother Them…”
That’s great — but also a bit misleading.
Many serious lumps don’t hurt at all. Pets often won’t show pain until something becomes uncomfortable or starts affecting how they eat, walk, or play. So don’t wait for it to grow or bleed before you act.
So, What Do We Do?
We have a simple motto: If you find it, let us check it.
Here’s what we typically recommend:
- Physical exam: We’ll assess the size, shape, texture, and location of the lump.
- Fine needle aspirate: If needed, using a tiny needle, we take a small sample of cells (quick and usually painless).
- Cytology or biopsy: We look at the cells under a microscope or send the sample to a laboratory to find out exactly what the lump is.
- Track changes: Sometimes, if it’s benign, we’ll just monitor it over time.
This process helps us take out the guesswork — and lets you stop losing sleep over “what ifs.”
When to See Us (Don’t Wait!)
Call us if the lump is:
- New or growing quickly
- Changing in shape, color, or texture
- Bleeding or oozing
- Causing your pet to lick, scratch, or limp
- Attached firmly under the skin (not movable)
- In a sensitive area like the mouth, paws, or eyelids
Basically: if it’s new or changing, we want to see it.
Real Talk: Early Detection Saves Lives
We’ve caught aggressive cancers early because a pet parent came in about a “weird little bump.” Other times, we’ve reassured worried owners that a scary-looking lump was nothing but a harmless fatty deposit.
Either way, peace of mind is worth it.
Check Your Pet Regularly
Make it part of your cuddle time — run your hands over your pet every week or so. Feel under the fur, around the legs, belly, chest, and neck. If something feels different, make a note (or take a picture for size reference) and give us a call.
Your pet can’t tell you what’s going on with their body — but your hands, your attention, and your instincts are all very powerful tools.
Bottom line:
Don’t play the “wait and see” game with lumps and bumps. The sooner we know what it is, the better we can treat it — or breathe a sigh of relief that it’s nothing serious.
Have you found a lump on your dog or cat? Give us a call. We’ll take a look, run some tests if needed, and walk you through the next steps — with clarity and compassion.
🐾 Because when it comes to your pet’s health, no bump is too small to care about.
