Could my dog's weight loss be linked to her skin bumps or cysts?

Unknown lumps and bumps are virtually impossible to diagnose without, at the very least, a visual inspection of the area. As such, I will provide you with some general information. An unknown mass or lump is typically one of the following: a cystic (fluid filled) structure, an abscess (fluid-filled, but infected), a mass / tumor, an allergic reaction / insect bite, or the result of a traumatic injury. A thorough physical exam and inspection of the affected area would be needed in order to determine which is most likely. In many instances, a needle aspirate (small amount of fluid obtained from the lesion and placed on a microscope slide) or tissue biopsy would be required to obtain a definitive diagnosis as to the type of lesion. If this is not an option, one must consider the location, distribution, duration of onset, patient breed / age / sex, and a variety of other factors. As Foxy is a younger dog, it is less likely that she would have a malignant tumor on her body than if she was elderly. You mentioned that the lesion is soft - this is typically a good sign that she is dealing with something benign or harmless. Whether or not this mass has anything to do with the weight loss is very difficult to say. I would recommend you make a regular appointment to see your vet and have her assessed as a whole. Hope this makes sense.

Weight loss can be caused by many problems. A few of these include parasites, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer. I would certainly be worried about the lump on her side and whether or not it is associated with why she is losing weight. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will likely recommend blood work to help determine why she is losing weight as well as sample the lump to find out if it is anything concerning. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Parasites, cancer, malabsorption or metabolic disorders can all lead to dogs loosing weight and hair. GSD can be prone to pancreatic insufficeincy that can affect absorption of nutrients. I would recomend a vet visit for an medical assessment and also evaluate the lump on her arm.

Hello! Those lesions could be caused by an infection like bacteria or even fungus as well as allergies. Usually though mild infections and allergies don't cause dogs to be depressed/act abnormally. If his behavior continues, he has any vomiting, or his food/water intake goes down further I recommend having your veterinarian do an exam as those changes could be caused by something more serious, like liver issues, anemia, an infection or even cancer.

Please have her checked by your vet as soon as possible. This is not normal and although any lumps are concerning, any that are painful or rapidly growing are very suspicious for underlying issues such as cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital to improve outcomes and reduce undue pain and discomfort.

If she hadn't lost so much weight in such a short period of time, I'd say it was fine to wait until Friday. Given the amount she has lost, which is a lot, I think it's best to have her seen by her vet before Friday for both this lump and weight loss. This lump could be a cyst, a benign growth, or a malignant growth.

Hmm. This does sound bit more than just allergies. If the bloodwork results came back relatively normal and the allergies are not being controlled by conservative allergy medications prescribed by your veterinarian, then I would consider having a skin biopsy done. Skin biopsies are done on pets that have a more complicated skin disorder. Also your pet may require a specific, more advanced, blood test that goes beyond the regular baseline bloodwork. It would help if we could see your pets actual bloodwork, even though the vet said it was normal. Because even normal bloodwork can sometimes offer clues. I know it sounds like your pet requires lot of testing; however, if you desire to know for sure what the underlying problem is, you have to do more diagnostic testing than the initial screening tests. And finally, in an older pet unfortunately you also have to consider certain skin cancers as a cause of your pets illness. Especially if he seems to be losing weight over time.