Can stress cause lumps in dogs

How to help your dog avoid cancer

Cancer is a reality for humans and pets alike. Unfortunately, your best pal can get cancer, and it has the potential to be deadly. Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogsTrusted SourceU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Government agency.Go to source ages 10 and up. Causes of canine cancer include genetics, environmental factors, viruses, and hormones.

Genetics

Some dog breeds inherit genetic traits that make them more likely to develop cancer. Trusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source For instance, Scottish terriers are up to 20 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than other breeds. Poodles, golden retrievers, and Australian shepherds are more at risk of cancer of the lymph nodes. Boxers tend to be prone to mast cell tumors, a type of skin cancer.

Researchers are learning to identify genetic markers for these cancers. Genetic markers help breeders work toward eliminating these inherited traits from their lines. This means we should see fewer incidences of inherited cancers in future generations.

Environmental factors

A dogs environment impacts its chances of developing cancer and what type. If someone in your household smokes, your dog is at an increased risk of tumors in the lungs and nose, particularly for long-nosed breeds like the Afghan hound. Second-hand smoke isnt the only environmental factor that affects your dogs health. Exposure to pesticides and herbicides raises a dogs risk of cancer. The risk also increases with canine obesity. Pups that spend a lot of time in the sun are at an increased risk of developing skin cancers. This is especially true if theyre fair-skinned.

Of course, certain environmental factors are outside of our control. One studyTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source compared cancer rates in dogs living near waste management facilities. It found a connection between the dogs proximity to the facilities and an increased risk of lymphoma. And dogs, like humans, are susceptible to allergens and pollutants in the air and water.

Viruses

Certain viruses increase a dogs risk of developing cancer. A trip to the dog park or a busy boarding facility may find Fido catching the contagious papillomavirus, which can lead to oral skin tumors. These tumors tend to be low-risk and resolve on their own.

Hormones

Sex hormones can play a role in the development of cancer as well. For this reason, there are conflicting opinions in the veterinary medicine world about when to spay and neuter dogs.

Studies show that female dogs that go into heat once or twice before being spayed are at an increased risk of developing cancer of the mammary glands. But studies also indicate that the earlier a dog is spayed or neuteredTrusted SourceNC State Veterinary MedicineVeterinary school.Go to source the more likely it is to develop bone sarcoma, lymphoma, and mast cell tumors. At least one study found that one in four neutered or spayed dogs were more likely to develop osteosarcoma than dogs left intact. Breeds like Labrador retrievers are also more susceptible to hormone-related cancers.

Age

Advances in veterinary science have extended our dogs lives. We all want our pets to live longer, but a longer life increases a dogs risk of contracting cancer during its lifetime. Recent research suggests that evolutionary biology has a major role to play here. Simply put, dogs are living longer as pets than their wild ancestors. Because of this, theyre exposed to more cancer-causing factors than in the past. This increase in lifespan has outpaced their evolutionary ability to develop cancer-fighting traits.

Lumps and Bumps on Dogs Skin: Signs, Symptoms, Causes

What is that strange bump on your dog? Discovering a skin lump or bump on your dog can set your mind reeling and heart racing, but theres no need to panic. A bump on your dog doesnt automatically mean cancer. While skin bumps and strange lumps on dogs should always be taken seriously, certain types of bumps are more common than you might think, and theyre often harmless.

Types of Skin Lumps and Bumps on Dogs

Skin bumps that youre likely to find on your dog fall into several categories. Some of these are more common in older dogs. As a new puppy owner, youll want to file these away and keep an eye out for them as your pup ages. While some of these are non-cancerous, some can be caused by infections or other underlying conditions. Its always best to have a veterinarian examine and diagnose anychanges to your dogs skinand determine a course of treatment, if needed.

Lipomas

These fatty tumors appear as soft, round lumps of flesh beneath the skin. Theyre made up entirely of fat cells and are always benign, or non-cancerous. Lipomas are usually found in older dogs and dogs who are overweight. Larger breeds are more prone to them, although they can be found in small breeds as well. Your vet may perform a fine needle aspirate, using a thin needle to collect cells and examine them under a microscope to verify that theyre fatty tissue.

Sebaceous Cysts

These are smaller bumps that can look like a pimple or a wart. They form from blocked oil glands and may burst and release a pasty, white goo. These most commonly occur in breeds with fine hair, like the Poodle and the Bichon Frise. They may disappear on their own, although some can remain for years and have the potential to become infected. Surgical removal is an option if they irritate your dog.

Warts

These small, cauliflower-like bumps are caused by the papillomavirus. They occur most often in puppies who dont yet have fully-developed immune systems and usually disappear on their own. Although the virus is contagious between dogs, it cant be transmitted from dogs to humans.

Skin Tags

These are fibrous bumps that look like small flaps or raised stalks of skin, although they may occasionally look like small bumps. They may or may not have hair growing on them. Skin tags are caused by overactive cells called fibroblasts and can occur in dogs of any breed or any age. Theyre often harmless, although your vet might want to do a biopsy to make sure, especially if the tag changes in shape, color or size.

Abscesses

Usually caused by an infection, abscesses are swollen tissue that can form around bug bites, animal bites, infected glands, and other types of sores. If not treated early they may burst, which is painful for your dog. Antibiotics may be required to treat the infection.

Button Tumors

Also known as a histiocytoma, these are benign tumors that affect puppies and young dogs between eight weeks and three years of age. Theyre caused by an overproduction of immune cells and typically disappear on their own.

Mast Cell Tumors

These are cancerous tumors that may occur either beneath or on top of the skin. Theyre often solid to the touch and irregular in shape. The appearance of such a tumor should receive immediate attention from a veterinarian. Theyll likely want to remove the tumor, if possible, before performing a biopsy to determine if cancer might have spread through your dogs body. If surgical removal isnt possible, you may be referred to a veterinary oncologist for chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Most Common Bumps and Lumps on Puppies

Thankfully, cancer in puppies is rare. The most common types of lumps or bumps found on puppies are warts, skin tags, button tumors, and abscesses. In these cases, your dogs veterinarian may recommend a wart ointment or other skin treatment. There are also some supplements that claim to help dissolve fatty lipoma skin lumps on dogs. Its also not unusual for puppies to develop swelling at the site of a vaccination injection, caused by a conglomeration of immune cells that gather there.

Typically, this vaccination site swelling subsides within a week. However, in rare cases, this gathering of cells can turn into a malignant tumor. Contact your vet if a vaccination lump lasts more than a week. They may advise you to keep a watchful eye on it and bring your pup in for a biopsy if the lump continues past three months, is more than an inch in diameter, or continues to grow or change shape.

Although its rare, it is possible for puppies to develop certain types of cancer, so its important to have any lumps, bumps, or other changes in your puppys skin examined by a veterinarian.

When Should You Worry About a Dogs Skin Bump?

Have your dog examined immediately if you discover a lump thats hard or firm to the touch, irregularly shaped, or if you notice a change in any existing lumps or bumps regarding size, texture, or color. Your vet should also immediately take a look at any bumps that ooze fluid. But again, while some lumps and bumps are harmless, its best to let your vet take a look at any new bumps or lumps on your dog and let your veterinarian make that determination.

Dealing with the possibility of tumors or infections in your dog or puppy can be costly as well as emotionally stressful for both you and your pet. Pet health insurance can help cover some of the cost, giving you one less thing to worry about and letting you focus on the best treatment options for your companion.

UK dogs and their fatty lumps: finally the risks explained

Published: 10 Oct 2018 | Last Updated: 04 Jul 2023 14:36:55

Springer Spaniels, Dobermann Pinscher, Weimaraners and Labrador Retrievers: some of our most popular dog breeds in the UK are also the most susceptible to lipomas (also known as fatty masses or fatty lumps), according to the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

The news comes as part of the findings from the worlds largest study of lipoma tumours carried out by the RVCs VetCompass Programme.

The results of this ground-breaking study will be used to help vets to identify which dogs are most at risk, assist with future breed health reforms, and prepare owners of predisposed breeds for dealing with this alarming condition.

These results show that lipomas are common in dogs: affecting one in 50 of all dogs each year. Their large size and rapid growth often cause extreme and long-term anxiety to owners of infected dogs.

Amazingly until now, veterinary research has largely ignored lipomas because these cases are rarely referred for specialist treatment and the majority of veterinary research relies on cases that are referred to specialist institutions. However, the RVCs VetCompassTM Programme has revolutionised veterinary research by collecting anonymised clinical data on dogs from first opinion practices. Consequently, this study has been able to specifically analyse the frequency and associations of lipomas in the general populations of dogs in the UK.

The RVCs study identified 2,765 lipoma cases from a population of 384,284 VetCompass dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2013. Other key findings included:

• At least one lipoma was diagnosed in 1.94% of dogs during the single year of the study
• Individual dogs with an adult bodyweight that was equal or higher than their breed/sex average had 1.96 times the odds of lipoma.
• As dogs age, their odds of getting lipoma increase. Dogs aged between 9-12 years were over 17 more likely to be diagnosed with lipoma compared to dogs aged 3-6 years old.
• Neutered dogs had higher risk.
• Insured dogs had 1.78 times the odds of diagnosis.
• Purebred dogs had 1.16 times the odds compared with crossbred dogs.

This large epidemiological study from the VetCompass Programme at the RVC used anonymous data from hundreds of thousands of dogs seen at UK vet practices. This data reveals the breeds, bodyweights, ages and neuter status, all of which is analysed by the research team who create patterns in the data.

Dr Dan ONeill, RVC Veterinary Epidemiologist and VetCompass researcher, said:

Lipomas in dogs are a common and scary diagnosis for owners to hear but yet, to date, there has been very little solid evidence on which dogs are at high risk. Evidence from thousands of dogs in VetCompass is finally helping owners to understand the risks of diseases such as lipoma and therefore reduce the sense of fear of the unknown when their dog gets such a diagnosis These results also suggest strong association between obesity and lipomas which can help in prevention in high risk breeds.

Dr Lynda Rutherford, Clinician and Lecturer in Small Animal Surgery at the RVC, said:

This paper has supported the theory that lipomas are more common in older, overweight dogs. This information is useful as can be discussed with owners and used as another reason to keep pet dogs weight under control. It also provides a useful insight into how common lipomas are within the UK dog population.

Notes to Editors

Link to the full paper:

The full paper is freely available open access at:https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-018-0065-9

O'NEILL, D. G., CORAH, C. H., CHURCH, D. B., BRODBELT, D. C. & RUTHERFORD, L. 2018. Lipoma in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK: prevalence and breed associations. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 5, 9.

For more information please contact:Alex Cassells ([email protected]) or Steven Guage Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the Royal Veterinary College

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a constituent College of the University of London.
• The RVC offers undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences. It is currently the only veterinary school in the world to hold full accreditation from AVMA, EAEVE, RCVS and AVBC.
• In 2017, the RVC received a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) the highest rating a university can receive.
• A research-led institution, in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) the RVC maintained its position as the top HEFCE funded veterinary focused research institution.
• The RVC ranked as the top vet school in the Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science unit of the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, with 55% of academics producing world-class and internationally excellent research.
• The RVCalso provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals; the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in central London, the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (Europe's largest small animal referral centre), the Equine Referral Hospital, and the Farm Animal Clinical Centre located at the Hertfordshire campus.