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| Please bear in mind when reading topics pertaining to health issues, that most of these questions were answered by helpful Maltese owners with no formal education in veterinary medicine. When in doubt seek a professionals advise. |
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| Lump by JENN |  ORIGINAL MESSAGE:We found a soft, pea size lump on the right side of my maltese - kelsey. when I took her to the vet he informed me that it was proably nothing (less then 2% is cancer in dogs) that lumps were common in dogs and to keep a eye on the lump for any size change. since then i've noticed another lump on her upper back right leg. this lump is harder and a little bigger. I have already made another vet appointment but have been very worried over this to say the least. I was wondering if anyone else has had any similar situations and if lumps were common in Maltese? |
 DISCUSSION: |
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My older Maltese (who recently passed away at 16 yrs old) had several lumps. The vet also told me they were nothing to worry about unless they were growing and he was licking or biting them open. He had one that grew and busted but the vet operated on him to get it out. It was not cancerous. The vet said they get them in their older years. Hope this info helps.Libby and Buster Libby & Buster |
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Jenn, I am far from an expert, but maybe this will help a little.
My vet pretty much says the same thing: watch for increase in
size, it probably is nothing. He has suggested that it is a good
thing, too, if pushing it or squeezing it does not evoke any pain. Could the hard bump be a rabies or booster bump? Theo has had one of those, and it seems to eventually go away. Theo also has a fatty tissue lump, which is free floating and squishy. Again, I was told the same thing. Regarding the one that is hard, perhaps the vet can try to draw liquid out of it...I am
not sure what that means if he can, but my vet tried to do that
and could not, and said that was good. So, back to the watching.
Good luck, and I hope all goes well. Sorry I can't be of more help! Beverly |
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Hi...we took Jazz in about four weeks ago because she also had a lump on her back right side (1" x 1 1/2"). The Vet took a sample of what was in the lump (with a needle). She put it under the microscope and said that there was nothing to it. She also said that it might be from the rabies vaccine she had a couple of months prior. The lump is still there. Hope this helps.
KarenM |
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No dog is too young to develop a cyst, abscess or tumor. Young animals,just like children, occasionally develop cancers.
If your dog has a lump that is growing, you should try to identify it. Under a short-acting anesthetic, the mass can be radiographed to see if it is attached to the bone. If it is not attached to the bone, the mass can be tapped to see what is in it. The material can be stained on a slide, or a piece can be sent to a laboratory for a pathological diagnosis. If the mass turns out to be scar tissue or a cyst, it is safe to take a wait-and-see attitude. An abscess would need to be drained and perhaps treated with antibiotics. If the lump turns out to be a tumor, the pathologist will report whether it is benign or malignant. This information will help you and your veterinarian decide the proper course of treatment. If the tumor is benign, the best course may be to remove the mass while it is still small and the urgency is not great. A malignant tumor, on the other hand, would require radical and immediate surgical removal, perhaps accompanied by radiation or chemotherapy. These decisions can be made only after proper diagnosis, however.
If the diagnostic work is inconclusive, your veterinarian can arrange for a seccond opinion. He or she can consult by phone or send the X-rays and lab work to an orthopedic specialist or an internist. Or you can be referred to a specialist, probably at the veterinary teaching hospital at the nearest veterinary school. |