My dog lifts his paw. Could it be a brain tumor? What are symptoms?

It depends entirely on what type of tumor it is. A skin tumor or some soft tissue tumors under the skin, you can feel and see. Tumors in bones will cause lameness. Nasal tumors cause nasal discharge and bleeding from the nose. Tumors in the abdomen or chest don’t often show obvious signs. Depending on the type of tumor, your pet may have some chronic, gradual changes (such as vomiting, diarrhea or a cough), or may suddenly collapse due to internal bleeding. If your dog is having specific symptoms, let us know and we can try to help you further! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I can appreciate an increase in size/swelling above the right eye in your photos here. A brain tumor itself normally wouldn't cause a visible swelling, as the brain is encased in the bony skull and a tumor would just cause increased pressure on the brain but not cause changes in the shape of the skull. That being said, we can have bony tumors of the skull that can change the skull shape. We can also have tumors of the soft tissue (skin, muscle, connective tissue) that could be seen on the head, and also tumors of the eye/muscles behind the eye. Your dog should definitely have an examination done by the vet. They may recommend an aspirate of the swelling to help tell what is causing it, an x-ray of the skull, and possibly more advanced imaging like a CT scan. This problem may be something easily fixed or may be more involved, but we won't know without further testing.

Initially it will be important to make sure they were seizures and not heart related (syncope/arrhythmia) as these can appear similar. Try to catch an event on video for your neurologist and document what happens before, during, and after the event. You are right the most common sign of a brain tumor is new onset seizures. But we do also always rule out any other causes like systemic issues, heart issues, and any other cancer elsewhere in the body. There are also other problems that can occur in the brain like inflammation. Ultimately what your neurologist will recommend will be based on the exam and information you provide but is likely to include chest xrays, an abdominal ultrasound, and MRI +/- CSF tap. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I'm very sorry to hear this! Unfortunately dogs can develop dementia as they age which can make them act in odd ways including pacing and looking into space. This is not a condition that is easily diagnosed in dogs as there are no medical signs aside from.the symptoms. Another thing that could cause behaviour change in a dog would be any condition that effects the brain. Especially diseases such as tumours which will press on and effect different areas. I would be slightly concerned that the behaviour change in your dog may be due to a physical brain condition such as a tumour, the fact that Buddy paws his head makes me wonder if there is a physical source of discomfort. My advice would be to return to your vet for an examination of neurological function and an eye exam. Sometimes these tests will show nothing, but often there are clues to be found regarding tumours. For a definitive diagnosis an MRI scan is often required. In terms of treatment it is very limited for both conditions. Treatment usually involves managing pain and trying to increase blood flow to the brain to help cognitive function. Although if quality of life deteriorates then euthanasia is sometimes the only option. Best of luck.

This lump looks like it could be a cyst or other skin growth or tumor, and I doubt it is related to the limping. The limping more likely would be related to arthritis, previous trauma or other joint disease. I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian. They can examine the lump and may recommend taking a sample using a small needle to determine what it is. They can also examine Moose's leg and may recommend taking x-rays.

Poor Bruno! Bumps under the skin can be caused by a variety of conditions, including abscesses, inflammation from soft tissue injuries, fractures, or bone tumors (unlikely given his young age), among others. It would be best to take Bruno to his vet for an exam and possible diagnostic testing. The vet will be able to feel the lump, assess his gait, and may need to take x-rays or perform cytology under the microscope with fluid/tissue from the lump. That said, if Bruno is walking completely normally, not licking the affected area, and is otherwise eating, drinking, and acting like himself, this type of lesion does not warrant a trip to an emergency vet and can wait a day or two, if needed. I hope this helps and that Bruno is on the mend soon!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear that your veterinarian suspects that Sky has a brain tumor. There are some clinical signs/neurologic abnormalities that can increase suspicion for a brain tumor, such as abnormal behavior, circling when walking, seeming blind or staring off into space, seizures, etc. Advanced imaging such as a CT scan or an MRI would be the way to definitively diagnose a brain tumor. Prednisone is a common steroid medication with anti-inflammatory properties that can help decrease some of these clinical signs and make dogs feel better. Making the decision to euthanize a pet is never easy, and I'm sorry that you are faced with this right now. If Sky is improving, it is not wrong to delay her euthanasia. I recommend thinking about Sky's ability to do things she normally enjoys, and if she is still able to do a lot of those things, maybe it isn't time to euthanize just yet. I hope this is helpful - my thoughts are with you during this difficult time.