Skin tumors are the most commonly seen tumors in dogs and felines. This type of tumor is diagnosed more frequently than other tumors in animals because they can be quickly seen and partly because the skin is always bare to many tumor-causing elements in the environment. Solar radiations, chemicals, and viruses are some of the things that cause skin tumors. Hormonal abnormalities and hereditary factors also contribute to developing skin tumors. Let us know more about this condition and how your veterinary medical professional will treat them.

Types of Common Skin Tumors

Basal Cell Tumors

This tumor is usually benign in dogs and felines and is commonly found on the head, ears, and neck. These tumors appear as solitary, firm, dome-shaped elevated masses, typically ulcerated or hairless. The lumps protrude like stalks from the skin surface. They are different in size, from less than 0.4 inches to more than 4 inches in diameter, and sometimes dark in color. Although benign, they can be large and cause extensive ulcer and secondary redness; they can also break the skin, lead to skin tissue death, and drain pus.

These tumors are not usually bothersome; however, they risk self-trauma and infection if they develop in an area that can be chewed or scratched. Your pet shouldn’t be allowed to scratch, bite, or lick these areas. Additionally, these tumors might grow without surgery, making surgical removal harder, which is why it’s best to have your veterinarian examine any abnormal growths or bumps as quickly as you notice them. More information regarding the surgical removal of this tumor can be found here. Less than 10% of basal cell tumors are malignant in research studies.

Histiocytomas

This tumor can typically be seen in younger pet dogs and cats less than 3 1/2 years old; it can also happen at any age, and it can be seen mostly in the head, ears, and limbs. The tumors look raised, solitary, usually hairless, sometimes multiple skin nodules or plaques, and occasionally ulcerated lumps that are movable.

Medical diagnosis is through the microscopic exam for samples of the tumor cells from the fine needle biopsy. They’re considered ugly by most owners’ standards, these masses are benign, and whenever left untreated, they will still resolve within two to three months or less. It is considered a highly treatable skin mass. If you want to know more about this tumor, you can ask your veterinarian in Douglasville GA, and be knowledgeable.

Lipomas and Liposarcomas

These tumors are benign tumors of fat and are common in canines and cats. Many lipomas combine with healthy fat tissue next to them, making it hard to identify the edges of the tumors. Fine-needle aspiration is needed to exclude other tumors that mimic lipomas, such as mast cell tumors.

The animal owner shouldn’t ignore lipomas, even if these are benign. Some tend to grow, and they might be indistinguishable from infiltrative lipomas or liposarcomas. Surgical removal can be a treatment for this. A dietary restriction like weight loss will be recommended several weeks before surgical treatment to make it not difficult for the surgeon to determine the tumor’s edges and remove it all.

These illnesses can be prevented when you are mindful of your animal’s health as a pet owner. You can find the best pet wellness plans for your pet to avoid possible health problems and to help ensure a healthy life for your family pet.