Why Does My Dog Keep Getting Benign Growths?
by A reader
What could cause this problem?
Some dogs simply tend to grow lots of benign lumps, and it often runs in breeds and families. Common ones include fatty lumps (lipomas), oil gland growths (sebaceous adenomas), skin cysts, warts and skin tags. Most become more common with age, and having had several doesn't mean your dog will get cancer.
The most useful thing you can do is ask your vet for a copy of the lab (pathology) reports from the two surgeries. Knowing exactly which type of growth your dog makes tells you what to expect and which new lumps are likely to be the same harmless kind. Some types, such as oily-coat cysts, are linked to skin conditions that can be managed.
Not every new lump needs to come off. A practical plan is to keep a simple map of lumps with their size and date, and have any new lump sampled with a quick needle test if it is pea-sized or larger and has been there a month, or if it grows quickly or looks different from the others.
See lumps and bumps on dogs and lipomas in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
