Is it normal for dogs to have bumps on their skin
Skin lumps and bumps: what to look for on your dog
Its always nerve-wracking for pet owners to find lumps on their dogs. There are several different kinds of bumps that can show up on your dog, including:
Abrasion. Also known as minor cuts and scrapes, these injuries are common in dogs and can leave behind a small bump.
Allergic dermatitis (allergies). Dogs with dermatitis from allergies can experience symptoms in the form of rashes, red bumps, inflammation, and hair loss.
Alopecia. Some dogs experience moderate to severe itchiness when dealing with alopecia or hair loss, resulting in skin thats red, inflamed, thickened, oozing, or bleeding. They might also break out in papules (red spots), pustules (pimples), plaques, or hives.
Bug bites. Bites from insects like ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and ants all cause small red bumps to form on a dogs skin.
Fatty tissue inflammation. Clinically known as steatitis, the swelling of the fat cells just underneath the skin can cause bumps that may be painful for your dog.
Folliculitis. Inflammation of a dogs hair follicles causes red, raised bumps to form on the skin.
Hot spots. These spots are a type of skin infection that begins as a small itchy bump or patch of skin and spreads rapidly as dogs lick and scratch at them.
Interdigital cysts. These growths are found between your dogs toes, also called digits. Interdigital cysts are typically caused by underlying conditions such as allergies, atopic dermatitis, or obesity.
Mange. Demodectic and sarcoptic mange are easily treatable infections caused by mites. Symptoms show up in the form of redness, rashes, and lesions on the ear margins, as well as the chest, elbows, hocks, and tummy.
Ringworm. A fungal infection known to affect dogs with weakened immune systems, ringworm affects the hair, nails, and coat in the form of hair loss, scaliness, scabs, and crusty areas.
Skin tumors. While there are a few different types of skin tumors, studies showTrusted SourceNC State Veterinary MedicineVeterinary school.Go to source that about 60% to 80% of them are benign in dogs, but always work with your vet if you suspect a skin tumor on your dog.
Yeast dermatitis. More commonly known as a yeast infection, these infections are caused by Malassezia pachydermatis, a type of fungus. Its common in dogs and causes dry, itchy, flaky, red, smelly, hardened, or hyperpigmented skin. It can also show up on the paws or in the ears.
Warts. These small lesions are usually found on a dogs head and face and are caused by the canine papilloma virus (CPV). Some warts may need to be surgically removed if theyre inflamed, infected, or fail to regress over time.
If you notice a new bump on your dogs skin, its best to get it checked out by your vet.
Lumps on your dog that need vet care
A minor cut may not need immediate veterinary care, but some lumps and bumps are more serious. These types of lumps will need veterinary care:
Abscess. These pockets of pus appear suddenly as a painful swelling that may be either firm to the touch or squishy like a water balloon.
Sebaceous cyst. These mostly benign cysts appear as swelling under a dogs skin and are caused by clogged oil glands.
Lipoma. A lipoma is a common benign tumor of fat seen in older pets. While they can grow anywhere on a dogs body, they usually only become problematic when they grow in locations that cause discomfort or impact their ability to walk.
Histiocytoma. Another common type, this tumor mostly affects dogs younger than 6 years old. These tumors are sometimes removed because of ulceration, infection, bleeding, and the chance that they may proliferate, though most regress on their own after a few months. Thats why histiocytoma is technically considered a type of cancer, though cell overgrowth typically regresses once the stimulus is removed.
Soft tissue sarcoma. This term covers a wide range of tumors, including those that arise from a dogs connective, muscle, or nervous tissues. Theyre caused by the abnormal production of cells in an uncontrolled manner.
Mast cell tumor. Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are one of the most common types of skin cancers in dogs. They form when the mast cells in the connective tissue start rapidly dividing, and theyre often raised, reddened, and itchy.
Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are tumors that form as a result of abnormal cell growth in the topmost layer of the skin, also known as the squamous layer. They usually appear as a single lesion in one location, but theres also a rare kind of SCC called multicentric squamous cell carcinoma (also known as Bowens disease or Bowenoid carcinoma) that presents as multiple lesions in multiple locations on the body.
Common Bumps On Dogs Skin And What They Mean
Finding a bump or lump on your dog can immediately send you spiraling trying to figure out what it is.
Is it just a fatty tumor? Is it cancerous? Do you need to worry?
We reached out to Dr. Corinne Wigfall, a veterinarian working with SpiritDog Training, and Dr. Justin Padgett, a veterinarian at Branchville Animal Hospital, to learn more about the different kinds of bumps on dogs' skin.
Common types of bumps on dogs skin
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of different types of lumps and bumps that dogs can get. Some are harmless, while others might mean something more serious is going on.
And you may even notice these bumps on your dog more often as he gets older but that doesnt always mean theyre a cause for concern!
As they age, the lumps and bumps increase as their cellular defense mechanisms break down and tumors (benign and malignant) are free to proliferate more readily, Dr. Padgett told The Dodo.
Some of the most common bumps and lumps you may find on your dog include:
1. Lipomas
These are benign fatty tumors that are typically harmless. Lipomas are usually soft and squishy and will probably move around under your fingers. They usually arent tender to the touch, so your pup likely wont even notice it.
2. Sebaceous cysts
According to Dr. Padgett, sebaceous cysts are cauliflower-looking growths that are full of gray, pasty material (this material can be liquid or semi-liquid). They arent cancerous, but you should still get them checked out (and possibly removed) if theyre bothering your pup.
3. Papillomas
Papillomas are oral warts typically found in your dogs mouth as a result of having papilloma virus. They usually grow in clusters and can sometimes become cancerous, so theyre always good to get checked.
4. Skin tags
Skin tags are pretty common on dogs (especially older pups), so youve likely seen one or two before. They arent cancerous and are often long, thin pieces of skin that hang off of your pup.
5. Haematomas
These are blood blisters under the skin most commonly seen in the ear. These arent cancerous, but your pup will have to get surgery in order to remove it.
6. Abscesses
An abscess is a painful bump or swelling that can sometimes fill up with pus. They should always be checked out (and usually drained) by a vet so that they dont rupture on their own and cause an infection.
7. Cancerous masses
These are various types of bumps that can be cancerous, like mast cell tumors (cancer of the immune system), melanoma (skin cancer) and mammary carcinoma (breast cancer).
While it can be difficult to know just by looking which bumps are cancerous or not, if a growth seems to have appeared overnight, is larger than the typical bumps your dog has had, and is painful or hard, you should get it checked out ASAP.
Dogs can have multiple bumps or lumps on the skin, and each one can have a different origin, so [they] all need testing by a veterinarian at least once, Dr. Wigfall told The Dodo.
What causes lumps and bumps on your dogs skin?
Some lumps and bumps are caused by different cancers or skin conditions, and others can be caused by skin infections or even allergic reactions.
When it comes to skin infections, Dr. Wigfall said that those can present as lots of small, raised bumps on the skin, while allergic reactions can present as big welts all over the body that come and go within 72 hours.
When to take your dog to the vet
Any lump or bump should be checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Owners should be concerned about growths that grow quickly, are firm to the touch, appear to contain a lot of inflammation and those that are bothersome/painful for the dog, Dr. Padgett said.
What your veterinarian finds will determine how the bump is treated, if at all. If it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics or surgery can resolve the issue, Dr. Wigfall said. If it is a non-cancerous growth, such as a wart [or] skin tag, you may choose to leave it alone and only surgically remove it if it is growing too big and causing a problem for the animals mobility or is getting caught and infected.
If the bump is determined to be cancerous, itll require surgical removal and be tested to figure out if any further treatment is needed.
So while many bumps on dogs' skin will be OK and nothing to worry about, its always a good idea to get them checked out by your vet just in case.
Ask a Vet: Why Do Dogs Have Bumps on Their LipsIs It Normal?
Author TB Thompson DVM is a licensed veterinarian with over two decades experience in helping dogs, cats and their humans.
Dear Doctor,
I noticed a couple of days ago my dog has some funny looking bumps on her lip. She has an appointment with the vet next week but Im so worried now! What do you think it could be?
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for sending in this question. I wish I had a straight answer for you, but dog lip bumps can come from lots of different things. Some are completely innocent and others need focused veterinary treatment.
The main causes of dog lip bumps include allergy, virus, bacteria, fungus, parasites, chronic abrasion, benign tumors and cancerous tumors.
Dogs lips take a lot of abuse. They come into contact with some very unsavory substances and theyre constantly being rubbed and soaked with saliva. They also have plenty of immune-system cells since they are likely to come into contact with infectious agents before any other part of the body.
Lets talk about some of the specific causes of bumps on a dogs lips and mouth.
KEY POINTS
- The serrated-appearing bumps on the edge of a dogs lip are normal but their purpose is unknown.
- Dogs can also get bumps on their lips from infections and tumors.
- Have any unusual bumps on your dogs lips checked out by your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Why Do Dogs Have Bumps on Their Lips?
There is one type of bump on a dogs lip that is 100% normal.
On the edge of a dogs lower lip, youll find about 15 little projections or bumps that are only about a - inch tall. (2) These are called macroscopic papillae or lip fimbriae. They look like a serrated knife but the lip nubbins are soft and hairless.
No one knows for sure if there is a purpose for these lip bumps. Youll notice lip fimbriae more on dogs with droopy lips like Bulldogs, Mastiffs and Cocker Spaniels.
Abnormal Bumps on a Dogs Lips
Lumps and bumps on dog lips are pretty common considering they love to chew and arent exactly the most hygienic creatures to walk the earth. Their teeth also rub on their lips, causing thickened areas to form which sometimes become very prominent..
It is often very difficult to tell a benign lip bump from a malignant one. Your vet will most likely want to do a biopsy of the affected area before making a diagnosis.
The following are some of the more common causes of abnormal lumps and bumps on a dogs lips and perioral tissue
Chin Acne
Did you know dogs can get acne? The more technical term is muzzle folliculitis and furunculosis. It looks like red bumps on the chin and lips.
Dog chin acne is most common in young, short-haired dogs. Ive seen it in various bulldog breeds as well as Mastiff-type dogs most frequently. The short hairs of these types of dogs seem to irritate the skin of the chin and lips when the dog rubs the area during normal activity.
Chin acne can overlap with the next dog lip malady, cheilitis
Lip Fold Dermatitis
The medical term for lip fold dermatitis is cheilitis. The typical lesions are hair loss, crusting, oozing, swelling and sometimes pain or itchiness. Many dogs with cheilitis also seem to have increased bad odor around their mouth from the sores.
The cause of cheilitis in dogs often involves hypersensitivity or allergies (environmental or food) (1), chronic trauma from teeth, and chronic moisture due to heavy/floppy lip anatomy allowing saliva to leak onto the skin.
Parasitic and Fungal Infection
There are a few parasites that can cause lesions on a dogs lips.
Demodicosis is caused by a microscopic skin mite. Some people call the disease red mange. It causes hair loss, bumps and sores in affected dogs. Sometimes these lesions show up as bumps on a dogs lips that look similar to those found in other diseases.
A single-celled protozoan organism in the Leishmania family causes Leishmaniasis in dogs and is most common in Mediterranean countries. The infection often causes sores around the mouth area but can affect other parts of a dogs body including the heart, lungs and stomach.
Ringworm is a skin disease caused not by a worm but by a fungus. Its not uncommon for dogs to get ringworm infection on their muzzle since the fungal spores are found in soil dogs like to root in. A classic ringworm lesion looks like a hairless, slightly raised red bump and can show up on a dogs upper or lower lip, or any part of their body.
All of these parasites need to first be diagnosed by a vet and then treated with an effective protocol of medication.
Canine Oral Papillomas
Canine oral papillomas are more common in young dogs under the age of 2 years but can affect dogs of any age. The virus is contagious between dogs and most of my patients seem to pick it up when they play closely with other dogs in a dog park, doggy daycare or boarding.
These dog warts frequently grow on the muzzle, lips and mouth of an affected dog. Usually, theyre 2-5 mm in diameter and are attached to the skin by a narrow base. If you look closely, youll notice a warty bumpy surface to them, kind of like the surface of a head of cauliflower.
Although the papilloma virus is contagious to other dogs, most clear the infection with no treatment within a few weeks to months.
Oral Cancer and Benign Tumors
Now we come to the more serious section of this discussion: oral cancer and benign tumors.
Dogs can get skin cancer on their lips as well as various sorts of tumors on their gums adjacent to the lip. It can be very difficult to tell if a tumor or growth is cancerous or non-cancerous without a biopsy.
Some of the more common tumors seen in a dogs mouth or on their lip include
- Malignant melanoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Fibrosarcoma
- Cutaneous lymphoma
- Mast cell tumors
- Benign histiocytoma
- Epulis
As soon as you notice anything that looks like a bump in your pups mouth, have your vet check it right away. Quick action may save her life.
Summary
There are normal and abnormal bumps on dog lips. And even among the abnormal bumps, only some of them are very dangerous.
The bottom line is that every bump on your dogs lips or mouth should be taken seriously. Ask your vet to examine your dog right away and be ready to follow up with diagnostic testing.
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