My 3-year-old chihuahua has small skin bumps. Are they concerning?

This lump under Behr's skin is most likely something benign like a cyst or lipoma, however there is a small chance it could be something cancerous. At such a young age cancer is unlikely but not impossible. If the growth doesn't go away within a few days or it gets larger it would be a good idea to have Behr examined by a veterinarian. If necessary a small needle aspirate can be taken from the lump and looked at under the microscope to determine if it should be removed surgically. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope the small lump ends up being a benign growth!

This bump could be a wart, a cyst, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. 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 bump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I would take Pedro into the vet tomorrow to have the bump examined and diagnosed. Once it is diagnosed, the vet can recommend a treatment.

Thank you for your question, and including a picture-this is very helpful. This little lump is likely something benign like a skin tag or similar, but I always recommend that if an owner notices changes in color, size or shape of a lump, especially if it is growing quickly, that it be evaluated by your veterinarian. If you are very concerned it would not be wrong to request that the lump be removed, then it can be submitted for review by a pathologist to let you know exactly what it is. You could always arrange to have Mieya's teeth cleaned at the same time, small breed dogs are prone to dental disease and this is a good age to start preventative dental care!

This could just be a cyst from the looks of it. Monitor it for the next week or so to see if it spontaneously regresses. IF it does not resolve on its own, or seems to bother Tia at any point, then its best to have your vet take a look at it. If it gets bigger it can then be sampled to determine what kind of growth it is, so that we know whether to worry about it or not. I do hope that Tia's growth resolves soon! Best wishes and take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. 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 him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello. These are probably benign, but since they are pigmented, I would recommend checking them out. A biopsy of one of them should confirm what the rest are & if a treatment plan is indicated, your veterinarian will know exactly what to do, even if it is just a watch & wait on the bumps. Please see your veterinarian at your earliest convenience. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If the mass has changed in size, colour or texture then yes, removal and biopsy is recommended immediately. If not, you could opt to monitor closely but be cautious it may change quickly and become difficult to remove or he may develop other complicating factors such as kidney disease or other conditions which may make anaesthetic less safe than it is at the moment. Biopsy of a small mass is a minor procedure with minimal risk of complications other than the small risk which accompanies all anaesthetics