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Pet Place: Spot problems by petting cats, dogs

By Robin Shroyer/Contributor

Dogs and cats love to be pet and their owners also enjoy the time spent petting their animals. Most pet owners are very conscious of subtle changes in the hair, skin and contours of their friends. It is fortunate for pets that their caretakers are so observant because sometimes a little lump or bump can be a serious problem.

Many of the surgeries done in a small animal veterinary hospital are “growth removals.” Pets are brought in because a growth on the skin or under the skin is noticed and owners are concerned.

As dogs and cats age, the probability of finding a mass will increase. When presented with an animal that has a newly found growth a veterinarian uses different criteria to determine how to advise the client.

The location of the mass is an important consideration when growth removal is considered. A mass on the leg, near the eye or on a toe can be removed. Often, getting the edges of the remaining skin together is difficult. In these cases, the smaller the mass is, the better.

Sometimes a veterinarian will decide to do a fine needle aspiration of a lump. This involves inserting of a small needle, which is attached to a syringe, into the lump and sucking out some of the cells. The cells are studied under a microscope to get additional information about the mass.

The appearance and rate of the growth will determine the approach the surgeon will take. Surgical removal of a sebaceous cyst or a fatty tumor can be postponed until the growth interferes with the patient’s comfort. Many older dogs have small, warty growths that can stay on the pet forever if they don’t bleed or bother the owner. Rapidly growing, firm, bumpy, or bleeding growths will likely prompt the doctor to recommend removal and histopathology.

There are veterinarians who are specialists called histopathologists. These doctors spend their days looking at thin slices of tissue under the microscope. Often the tissues require special stains in order to accurately diagnose the type of tumor that has been submitted by the veterinarian. The histopathologist will give information about the tumor type, how complete the removal was, and the prognosis for the pet.

Sometimes the diagnosis by histopathology will lead to further surgery, radiation treatment, medical treatment or chemotherapy.

More often, the growth is benign and everyone is relieved. Sometimes the lump is just a tick.

So, as you enjoy the comfort of petting your canine or feline friend, know that you are also watching out for the health of your pet.

Veterinarian Robin Shroyer is the co-owner of Nipomo Dog & Cat Hospital, 525 Sandydale

Drive. Contact the hospital at 929-2855 or visit the Web site at nipomodogandcathospital.com.