My Shih Tzu has small, painless lumps. Are they common for the breed?

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.

In a young dog like Bow, this lump could be a cyst, a lipoma, or a benign tumor. I wouldn't be worried about it, but I would have her seen by a vet for it. 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 lump 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 have Bow seen by a vet tomorrow to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed.

Lumps can be solid or fluid filled, benign or malignant. It is very difficult to determine which without a physical exam and diagnostics. If the lump is not bothering Poncik or impeding movement, then you can monitor it for rapid change or. Since you are obviously concerned though, you can have her examined by your veterinarian. The vet can perform a fine needle aspirate in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. Once results are returned, you and your vet can decide the best course of action.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It can be concerning when you find a lump/bump on your pet. This one in particular could be a bug bite based on its appearance, but a growth can't be completely ruled out. If it is somewhat squishy, then a cyst like growth is more likely. I would certainly get it examined by your vet who can palpate the area and make a better determination here. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much about this skin lesion for now. I do hope that your appt goes well with Beamer on tomorrow. 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!

It is impossible to say definitively thwt the lumps are benign without examining and aspirating the masses. If we obtain cells from the lump and they are non-cancerous, I would not be concerned. However, even benign lumps can cause issues if they become ulcerated or continue to grow. Discuss removal vs. aspirated with your veterinarian.

Hi, and thanks for your question. Although a picture of it would help to give you a more specific answer, this lump/bump/growth should be ideally examined by your local vet to have a diagnosis established. Your vet may want to perform an FNA (fine needle aspiration) or a biopsy to sample the bump and determine its underlying nature. Differentials would include skin cysts, infections, benign or more malignant type of tumors. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!