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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / November 2006When to worry about a pimple (11 yo Lab)
My post in another thread got me thinking. My 11 year old lab is covered in lumps and bumps of various sizes. The vet has seen him and isn't concerned about them (old dog syndrome ;) ). Anyways, I noticed the other day, one of the spots (we'll call it a wart because that is what it most resembles), on his face (left side of his nose about 1" behind the whiskers) seems to have gotten bigger. The area seems a little tender, and the end is red. The bump is composed of three smaller bumps about 2mm in diameter (I had thought it was only one before). There is no hair on the wart Anyways, I'm a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to this dog (I know it, but it doesn't help the fact that he worries me sick half the time), and was hoping someone here could assuage my fears. He saw the vet a week ago Thursday for an unrelated matter so I don't think its anything remarkably serious, but I wonder at what point it should be removed. Dale (we'll call it a wart because that > is what it most resembles), on his face (left side of his nose about 1" > behind the whiskers) seems to have gotten bigger. The area seems a little > tender, and the end is red. The bump is composed of three smaller bumps > about 2mm in diameter (I had thought it was only one before). There is no > hair on the wart <snip>......, but I wonder at what point it should be > removed. ..........sounds like one of those viral warts. You might Google that. Most often these get bumped or irritated, and if they start to bleed of otherwise bother the dog, that's when they're usually removed. Hard to tell from here, though, so keep an eye on it. Did you mention it to the vet when you were there? Or was the white-coat too bright? ;-) buglady take out the dog before replying "buglady" <buglady99@bigfootdog.com> .... > ..........sounds like one of those viral warts. You might Google that. > Most often these get bumped or irritated, and if they start to bleed of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > when > you were there? Or was the white-coat too bright? ;-) Actually it wasn't worrying me at the time, I was too concerned about other issues (he'd been vomiting and was somewhat off his food... got him in to the vet, we was wagging his tail, dancing around, and had gained 2 pounds :) ). It was only yesterday that I actually noticed that it seemed to be getting bigger (which is the part that got me looking closer and to notice that while there was only one bump there before there are now 3). In any case they only seem to bother him when I poke and prod him, but I'll keep an eye on them, and try to ask the vet next time I'm there (I'm volunteering for this vet, so I see them fairly frequently without the dogs there). Dale > My post in another thread got me thinking. > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Dale The lumps and bumps are probably benign cysts. Regarding the area around the nose, it may be caused by his rubbing the area on the carpet or the furniture. Unless it becomes infected, it may be self limiting. Could he have gotten stung or bitten by something? Regards <toucanldy@aol.com> wrote in message > The lumps and bumps are probably benign cysts. Its the growing thing, and the multiple in one spot that kind of had me worried. Its hard as I've only had this guy for a about a year now, so I'm still getting used to all his quirks (doesn't help that we know darn well he's probably only got a couple of years at best left in him... Didn't seem so bad a year ago what it was 3 or 4 years, now that its 2 or 3, and could easily be less, the reality starts to sink in and I start to worry that every little thing might be the begining of the end for him). > Regarding the area around the nose, it may be caused by his rubbing the > area on the carpet or the furniture. I don't think so, as its not really in the right place for that, and we haven't noticed it really bothering him (unless I poke it). >Unless it becomes infected, it may > be self limiting. Could he have gotten stung or bitten by something? Its possible but its been around in some form or another (it used to be smaller) for quite some time so I wouldn't have thought so. Dale > Its the growing thing, and the multiple in one spot that kind of had me > worried. This is not a great pix of a sebaceous gland tumor but maybe further searches will get you a better one: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_sebaceous_gland_tumors.html Viral warts are usually papillomas and look like miniature cauliflowers. Couldn't find a good pix of them. I note that most websites say they occur most often in young dogs with immature immune systems. I suppose they figure that most older dogs are immune to them, but my 10 yr old got one last year (they're contagious between dogs) and it's just sitting there doing nothing. I have to remember where it is when I'm searching for ticks so I don't try to remove it! ......In any case, if it keeps expanding, I'd get it taken off as there's not much extra skin in that area so you don't want it to get big. You might also think about getting the tissue sent to a lab, just to make sure. Its hard as I've only had this guy for a about a year now, so I'm > still getting used to all his quirks (doesn't help that we know darn well > he's probably only got a couple of years at best left in him... Didn't seem > so bad a year ago what it was 3 or 4 years, now that its 2 or 3, and could > easily be less, the reality starts to sink in and I start to worry that > every little thing might be the begining of the end for him). ..........Well, sooner or later you'll be at the end and have to say goodbye. When one of my labs was 10, I started to look at her often and think, well someday soon she won't be here. She made it to 14 1/2, despite having been diagnosed with Addison's at age 10 and having a bad hind end. I regret spending so many years mourning the end before it got there. But then, that was my first experience as an adult having a dog until old age and just contemplating the possibility of euthanasia was upsetting. Just enjoy every day. buglady take out the dog before replying > My post in another thread got me thinking. > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Dale Hi Dale, I also have a very bumpy, warty dog--she's a16 plus mixed breed with some lab thrown into the mix. My vet has not been concerned about most of most of Kellie's bumps but she has removed several of them--mostly when they have gotten bigger and unsightly and once when one started bleeding. It's been awhile and I don't remember many specifics but most of them have been strictly benign. The one that was bleeding was pre-cancerous. I would be a little concerned about your dog just because it has grown and changed some. Just for your own piece of mind it might be worth taking him in to have it looked at. Kellie also had an aggressive malignant melanoma removed from the inside of her mouth but it was hard, kind of on a stalk and didn't seem at all painful. It was mottled and blackish and just sort of dangled from her lower lip. It didn't look anything like any of the other bumps. It was removed over a year ago without any sign of recurrence which is somewhat of a miracle. She probably would not be alive now without early diagnosis and removal of it (with wide margins removed). I'm totally paranoid about it now but she's got a myriad of other issues so I'm paranoid about a lot of things!! Good luck, Bonnie > My post in another thread got me thinking. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > about 2mm in diameter (I had thought it was only one before). There is no > hair on the wart I"m sure your vet has told you to not be too worried about the "lipomas" on your dog as long as they stay smooth, relatively the same size, and moveable. I would be concerned with what you're describing. 2mm is tiny, but if it's doubled in size as you say I'd be worried. > Anyways, I'm a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to this dog (I know it, > but it doesn't help the fact that he worries me sick half the time), and was [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > its anything remarkably serious, but I wonder at what point it should be > removed. If he was at the vet a week ago and it wasn't noticed and now you're noticing it growing, that's significant. Have it checked out to allow yourself some sleep at night. > Dale |
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