Identify lumps, bumps, skin tags & warts on your pet

Often people. A lump or bump that appears on your cat or dog could be anything from a tick or an insect sting to a cyst or maybe an abscess, which are not nice, but far easier to deal with than a malignant swelling.  

Most common swellings and lumps on pets

The most common swellings and lumps that appear on domestic pets are:

Warts

These can be caused by a virus, some may need treatment but most just appear and disappear on their own

Cysts

Commonly appear between the toes or under sweat glands on the skin.

Ticks

Can look like moles or skin tags sometimes

Lipomas

Lipomas are harmless fatty lumps that can appear anywhere on the body

Insect bite or sting

Abscesses

These are more common in cats and usually present as a hot lump that has puss under the skin or discharge from it

Mast cell tumours

Mast cell tumours are lumps on the skin and are commonly found on Boxer dogs, some are malignant and need to be removed straight away

Mammary tumours

Mammary tumours present as lumps under or close to the nipple area

Testicular tumours

These are lumps on the testicles of uncastrated males and can be benign (harmless) or malignant (cancerous)

What to look for in a lump on your pet

If the lump seems painful, has any discharge from it or is affecting your pet’s mobility then contact your vet straight away.  It is very difficult to be certain what a lump is without looking at it more closely, so your vet may want to look at the cells under a microscope or even take a biopsy under general anaesthetic.

Registered Veterinary Nurse Carolanne says “Examine your pet regularly, just stroking or brushing them is enough to get to know what is normal for them. If you notice any changes then monitor them closely, take a photo or write a note about the size and shape of the swelling and if it changes within 24 hours then contact your vet”

Keeping an eye on your dog’s behaviour is key to ensuring that your dog stays happy and healthy. From common health issues in dogs to recognising stress in dogs, to examining your dog, we have plenty of guides to help you along the way.