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How long is dog spay & lump removal surgery? Is it cancer?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 9 years and 2 months old | 4.3 lbs

On April 18 Precious is getting spayed & also a bump removed to be sent away to be tested. How long should this whole procedure take? If a needle aspiration was done on the bump & it was something the vet couldn’t identify but was of the same cell could this be benign? She would have seen mast cells, correct? Since June of 2017 it has only grown a little bit & she has never bothered it. It’s like a small round ball. I’m really scared

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 7th, 2018

A spay typically does not take longer than 20-30 minutes, but sometimes it can be shorter or longer depending on the dog. For example overweight dogs or dogs in heat can and do take longer. Removing the bump should not take long either, and it could be that whole procedure can be done in an hour to 90 minutes. I would ask your vet for a time estimate. As for the fine needle aspirate (FNA) of her bump, not all types of malignant tumors can be diagnosed with an FNA, so it doesn't mean that her bump is benign if nothing was seen with that test. There are many different types of malignant tumors besides mast cell tumors. While you can see if a bump is a mast cell tumor with an FNA, sometimes it's not always possible so an excision biopsy is needed to get the exact diagnosis. There is a chance the bump could be benign, and your vet is doing the right thing by removed the bump to get a diagnosis on it. I certainly understand being worried about Precious, and I hope that everything does ok with her. Best of luck!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Do not be scared. Cross that bridge when you get to it, The spay should take about 20 minutes and removing the mass will take another 10 minutes or so. It is better to have the mass removed right away and send it in for a pathological exam. About 50% of the mammary gland masses are benign. The earlier a mass is removed, the more likely it is that the mass removal will be curative, especially when the dog is spayed at the same time. as many mammary tumors are estrogen-dependent (similar to breast cancer in humans). You should have a pathology result within 10 days, possibly earlier. I am afraid without seeing the cells under the microscope myself, I cannot tell you what type of cells they were. The abdomen is not a typical area where mast cell tumors appear. Usually tumor cells (benign and malign) tend to grow uncontrolled, ie there often will be many of the same cells in the mass. The pathologist will give a diagnosis and then you can discuss further treatment, if necessary. Considering it has grown very slowly, it does not seem to be very aggressive.

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