Reviewed by Dr Katie DavisonBVMS MRCVS - RCVS Recognised Advanced Veterinarian
Finding a new lump on your pet is unsettling. The good news is that many lumps are harmless - but you genuinely can't tell which is which just by looking or feeling, and that's the whole point of getting them checked.
Here's what lumps can be, which ones warrant a prompt look, and how we find out what a lump actually is.
What a lump might be
- Fatty lumps (lipomas) - common and usually harmless
- Cysts, warts and abscesses
- Insect bites or reactions, which come up quickly and often settle
- Skin tumours - some benign, some not
Get it checked sooner if the lump…
- Is growing quickly, or has changed in size, shape or colour
- Is firm, fixed to deeper tissue, or ulcerated
- Is bothering your pet - sore, itchy, or being licked
- Appears alongside weight loss or your pet being off-colour
How we find out what it is
The only reliable way to know what a lump is, is to test it. Often we can take a quick, minimally-invasive sample (a fine-needle aspirate) and look at the cells - sometimes in-house - to get an answer without surgery.
If a lump does need removing, our surgical team can take care of that and, where needed, send it away for a definitive diagnosis. The key message: don't 'watch and wait' on a lump you're unsure about. A quick check on 07 870 2696 gives you peace of mind, and catches the occasional serious lump while it's still easy to deal with.