My dog has lumps, vet suggested surgery. Is removal necessary?

Some types of growths are not able to diagnosed with an aspirate, and require a biopsy for diagnosis. It could be that your vet is concerned that based on the appearance and the way it feels (hard and fixed) that the growth is malignant, and removal is the best option instead of doing an aspirate. More than likely, your vet will send the growth on Koda to the lab for a biopsy after removal. It can happen that the vet decides to remove a growth without doing an aspirate, so this is a normal occurrence.

The lump looks like it may be a possible skin growth or even abscess (infection under the skin). Skin growths tend to be benign, however it is best to have the area looked at by your vet. Your vet can likely take a sample of the area without sedation/anesthesia for testing to see what treatment (if any) needs to be done. Your vet can also examine Luke and perform any bloodwork if needed to determine if it would be safe to remove the lump under anesthesia, if needed.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You should definitely bring the lumps to your vet's attention on Thursday. As Beau will already be under anesthesia, which is usually the bulk of the cost of the procedure, it may be wise to have the lumps removed at the same time. Your vet can also take a fine needle aspirate, or a small sample of cells, if you elect not to have the lumps removed completely. I hope all goes well for Beau on Thursday!

In a senior dog like Sandy, there is always a chance that a lump could be malignant. This does need to be seen by a 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 while the dog is awake 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. There are senior dogs who have anesthesia without problems, and that may be the case with Sandy. The lump needs to be diagnosed first before worrying about going to surgery, so give your vet a call in the morning to make an appointment. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

These lumps appear to be either a wart, or benign cyst, but there is no way to tell for sure unless a sample is taken and sent to the lab. They do tend to get these more often as they get older. These can rub against things and break open, so removal is considered to prevent this and as a way to definitively diagnose the type of mass. I do not suspect that the vet has given any unethical advice in order to boost revenue (this would be a highly irregular and unlikely thing for a vet to do); and I would likely give the same advice in this situation. Tying a string around the lump is not a safe option. This can cause a great deal of pain and lead to severe infections. Only surgical removal by a professional is advised for these. I hope that helps and all is well with Brino.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the lum has not gotten bigger and remains stable in size and character, I think it is safe to wait until the 18th for removal. Your veterinarian is likely concerned the mass is cancerous. Therefore she is likely recommending removal for a better diagnosis. It really could be anything, from an infected cancerous mass or an infected benign mass. Removal of the mass and sending it for histopathology would be the gold standard for diagnosis and prognosis.

Costs will vary by geographical location. After an initial exam, typically $25-$50, the veterinarian will be able to provide an estimate for services. A fine needle aspirate can be done on the lumps to collect samples for pathology. Once results are received, the lump can simply be monitored or they may need surgical resection. Do not hesitate to request an estimate. Most clinics will provide one as a matter of hospital policy.