Dog Community

Hap has a lump =(

Posted : 8/1/2010 11:59:14 PM

So, as most of you can tell...I'm a super anxious dog-owner worrier, lol. And I found a spot on one of my babies today...he's going into the vet as soon as they can fit in him (hopefully this morning)... I'm hoping it's a "skin tag" (I found a post where one person said hers looked like a flattened tic and that's what it was)... but still really worried!! Please think good thoughts for us...and has anyone else had experience with this? All the information I found said he could have multiple ones and that no one's sure what causes them. So I have no clue how to prevent them!

JackieG

Posted : 8/2/2010 5:32:36 AM

I wouldn't get too worried at this point. I know that's easier said than done. Many dogs get lumps and bumps and mostly they are harmless. Get it checked by your vet for your peace of mind.

Jewlieee

Posted : 8/2/2010 8:34:01 AM

agree

iluvjamison

Posted : 8/2/2010 9:00:10 AM

I would go get it checked out.

Deb W.

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/2/2010 12:25:26 PM

Mostly skin tags happen to older animals -- so yeah, get it checked.

That being said -- I found a tick on Tinkerbell this weekend -- FOR ALL THE WORLD it felt like a skin tag. I had a hard time getting her to sit and let me look back thru her coat to find it *again* and when I did it just felt soft and skin-like.

but ... upon closer look it WAS a tick and I was able to get a good enough hold on it to get it out pincers and all (dropped him in alcohol -- that tick won't wake up from that hangover).

I've never seen a tick at that stage of feeding -- I've seen them big but never just a "bit" engorged and I was astonished how soft it and flexible it was -- not tick-like at all.

My point is ANYTHING is worth checking out. Being cautious isn't stupid at all.

hapnthatch

Posted : 8/2/2010 3:36:38 PM

So, Hap just got home from the vet. It is definitely a skin tag... the vet said he'd take it off if I wanted, but the chances of it being cancerous were quite slim. So, I'm going to wait and see if it changes or if he starts irritating it. I'm so glad it's not anything worse, but it sucks that there's apparently nothing I can do to prevent them. Thanks for all your support!

jessies_mom

Posted : 8/2/2010 6:01:52 PM

I'm glad it isn't cancer!!!

hapnthatch

Posted : 8/2/2010 10:04:36 PM

Yes, definitely! I lost my dad to cancer and having to fight with/lose my dog to cancer would be... indescribably painful. The $50 at the vet to reassure myself was totally worth it =)

Johnny&Tessy

Posted : 8/3/2010 7:05:02 AM

hapnthatch
The $50 at the vet to reassure myself was totally worth it =)

I hear you with that one!!! $50 can save you a whole lot of money and or grief in hte long run sometimes. Always better to be safe than sorry!

Good to hear it isn't cancerous!

hapnthatch

Posted : 8/4/2010 8:11:18 AM

So after just making the decision NOT to have the surgery... Hap's having the surgery tomorrow morning. I checked it this morning and now it's purple at the bottom so I'm thinking maybe it got scratched and then more blood flow (I'd hate for one of them to RIP it off-that sounds even worse than surgery)? Either way... it looks different and I'm going to keep obsessing... so it's tomorrow. And I've decided that even though it costs $$$, I'm going to have it biopsied just in case since they're already removing it. And then the way too long wait for results...but at least I'll know for absolutely positive for sure. :(