My dog has a cauliflower lump on his leg for years. Is it okay?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lady. This lump could be a cyst, a benign growth, or a malignant growth. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give her vet a call to make her an appointment. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. Given the fact that it is growing quickly, a malignant tumor is more likely. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry Mia is having this issue. If this was a simple injury surely it would have healed by now. The fact that it has been going for a year and is growing, I would recommend you have it surgically removed and sent off to a lab for histopathology. Due to the location of this mass, if it gets much larger it will be harder to remove as there is not a lot of extra skin to close a large incision in that area. This is just my opinion. What the mass actually is though, I cannot say just by looking at a photo. It may be benign but it could also be malignant. The histopathology will tell which it is. It could also be that she has a foreign body (maybe a splinter or something) under the skin that is festering so this may not be a mass at all. It is really difficult for me to say just by looking at the photo. It is a possibility however, I would have expected it to cause more of an infection by now if that was the case. Still a possibility though. You are always welcome to get a second opinion by another vet that can examine her in person. Remember, you know Mia best and need to be her advocate. If you are uncomfortable or have a bad feeling about something then voice those concerns. In my opinion it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you are worried then removing the mass is the best option. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like a skin growth. I don't think it is a tick or any other skin parasite. Ticks feed on dogs for 3-4 days and then fall off. If this lump has been there for a few months it cannot be a tick or any other bug. Skin growths like this are common in older dogs. They are usually benign and not dangerous, but please show it to your vet the next time you take Lily in for an appointment.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Marvin has been going through so many issues. It does appear that he has developed a growth on his back leg, and I do recommend all abnormal growths be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if they are benign (non-cancerous) or not. While it could be a cyst, insect bite, or wart, there are certain types of skin cancer (such as mast cell tumors) that can look similar to what you are seeing. I would recommend Marvin see his regular veterinarian and have a needle aspirate to help determine what the growth might be, and determine any further treatment that may be needed. Good luck!

Hello. Unfortunately, there is no way to stop these small growths from occurring. Removal is curative, but small cysts & lumps, as well as skin tags, can continue to appear. It is just who Benjamin is. It is always best to have your vet take a look & monitor these growths. Some should be removed while others should be left alone. It is important to know what they are & your vet can take a small sample with a syringe & needle & examine the cells under the microscope. The ones you show do not appear to be very worrisome, but do have your vet make note on Benjamin's chart to follow their growth. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have Maddy evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!