How to Know If Your Dog Has Cancer
Check your dog over regularly for lumps and bumps on the skin's surface or just under the skin., Assess the lump., Have lumps checked out by a veterinarian.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Check your dog over regularly for lumps and bumps on the skin's surface or just under the skin.
The goal here is early detection of any tumors that could be associated with cancer.
Grooming your dog is a great chance to become familiar with what's normal for its body.Don't panic if you find a lump.
The lump could be a wide variety of things, from a harmless spot or mole to a more serious, aggressive cancer. -
Step 2: Assess the lump.
Check the size and shape of the lump.
Measure the size of the lump and write it down with the date for future comparison.
How deep is the lump? Feel the lump and see if it seems to be in the skin, beneath the skin, or attaching the skin to the tissue beneath.
What shape is the lump? Is the lump round or does it have an irregular shape.
Irregular lumps should always be checked urgently by a veterinarian.
How quickly is it growing? It is best to get any new lumps checked but if you are unable to get to a vet straight away, monitor the lump.
Measure it weekly to see if it is enlarging.
A rapidly growing lump needs urgent attention.
Is it painful or itchy? If the lump is red, inflamed, or the dog itches or chews at it, this is an important sign that it needs checking urgently by your veterinarian. , They can perform a fine needle aspirate, to obtain a small sample of cells to examine under the microscope.
Sometimes this is sufficient to make a diagnosis, but failing this a full biopsy may be necessary to know exactly what the lump is.
Some lumps are judged to be of lower risk than others, these tend to have the following characteristics (although it should be noted some more serious lumps can also mimic these signs) :
Round, growing on the skin, the skin remains free and not attached to tissue below, slow growing, not sore or inflamed.
Higher risk lumps often have one or more of the following characteristics: irregular shape, rapid growing, deeply attaching the skin of the tissues beneath, inflamed itchy or painful. -
Step 3: Have lumps checked out by a veterinarian.
Detailed Guide
The goal here is early detection of any tumors that could be associated with cancer.
Grooming your dog is a great chance to become familiar with what's normal for its body.Don't panic if you find a lump.
The lump could be a wide variety of things, from a harmless spot or mole to a more serious, aggressive cancer.
Check the size and shape of the lump.
Measure the size of the lump and write it down with the date for future comparison.
How deep is the lump? Feel the lump and see if it seems to be in the skin, beneath the skin, or attaching the skin to the tissue beneath.
What shape is the lump? Is the lump round or does it have an irregular shape.
Irregular lumps should always be checked urgently by a veterinarian.
How quickly is it growing? It is best to get any new lumps checked but if you are unable to get to a vet straight away, monitor the lump.
Measure it weekly to see if it is enlarging.
A rapidly growing lump needs urgent attention.
Is it painful or itchy? If the lump is red, inflamed, or the dog itches or chews at it, this is an important sign that it needs checking urgently by your veterinarian. , They can perform a fine needle aspirate, to obtain a small sample of cells to examine under the microscope.
Sometimes this is sufficient to make a diagnosis, but failing this a full biopsy may be necessary to know exactly what the lump is.
Some lumps are judged to be of lower risk than others, these tend to have the following characteristics (although it should be noted some more serious lumps can also mimic these signs) :
Round, growing on the skin, the skin remains free and not attached to tissue below, slow growing, not sore or inflamed.
Higher risk lumps often have one or more of the following characteristics: irregular shape, rapid growing, deeply attaching the skin of the tissues beneath, inflamed itchy or painful.
About the Author
Diana Howard
Enthusiastic about teaching hobbies techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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