When a lump isn’t a tumour

Yes, a lump on your pet’s skin could potentially be a tumour requiring further investigation. But rest assured, there are a lot of other things it could be too! Here are some common alternative reasons for localised skin swelling in dogs and cats.

Infection
Localised skin infection is most commonly seen in pets as:

Pyotraumatic dermatitis, also known as a “hot spots”
Hot spots occur when your pet scratches or nibbles at an area of skin irritation, rapidly creating an area of inflamed, oozing and often painful skin that can become infected too. These areas often need to be clipped and cleaned often under sedation, and treated with anti-inflammatories and antibacterial treatments.

Abscesses
Abscesses are pockets of infection that can form beneath the skin due to penetrating injuries such as cat bites or foreign bodies (e.g. grass seeds). They may require surgery to drain out pus, extract any foreign bodies, and cut out damaged tissue.
Allergic reaction
Hives are areas of skin swelling which often occur during mild allergic reactions to insect bites or contact with certain plants, foods or chemicals. Hives can often be treated with short courses of antihistamines or anti-inflammatories, and avoidance of the underlying trigger.

Cyst
Sebaceous cysts are skin swellings containing thick creamy sebum material, and occur when sebaceous (oil) glands in the skin become blocked. Unless they become irritated or infected, they can be left alone.

Callus
Calluses are areas of thickened skin over pressure points, commonly developing on the elbows of large breed dogs who lie on hard surfaces. Calluses do not require treatment unless they become infected or irritated.

If you find any skin swelling on your pet, the best course of action is to have it checked promptly by one of our vets.