k blood?

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. You should look at taking him to your veterinarian to have it looked at. Be sure that it doesn’t need anti biotic and to check exactly what type of growth it is. Just try to keep it clean the best that you can until you can get in to see your vet.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Lipomas are the most common benign mass dogs can get; they`re often found under the skin of older dogs, and are more common in obese dogs. They tend to be round, soft tumours of fat cells that grow very slowly and rarely spread, so it can take up to six months before you see any change.
Lipomas: these fatty tumors appear as soft, round lumps of flesh beneath the skin. They`re made up entirely of fat cells and are always benign, or non-cancerous. They`re usually found in older dogs and dogs who are overweight. Larger breeds are more prone to them, although they can be found in small breeds as well.
Lipomas are the most common masses found on pets. These “fatty tumors” are almost always benign growths, and are usually just under the skin. They remain relatively mobile (skin moves around them freely) unless they invade local muscle and connective tissue.
Lipomas are not painful and may only cause discomfort if they become so large or are in a location that they affect a dog`s range of motion. For instance, if a lipoma is located in the armpit, and it becomes very large in size (think grapefruit sized), it may inhibit movement of the front leg.
A lipoma is a noncancerous growth of fatty tissue cells. A lipoma can develop in almost any organ of the body although they are most commonly found in the subcutaneous layer just below the skin. A lipoma usually grows slowly and is a nonpainful mass that is soft and moveable under the skin.
A lipoma is a soft, fatty lump that grows under the skin. It`s fairly common, harmless and can usually be left alone. When you press a lipoma, it should feel soft and `doughy` to touch. It can range from the size of a pea to a few centimetres across.
Skin squamous cell carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed form of skin cancer in dogs. These tumors appear as raised wart-like patches or lumps that are firm to the touch and are most often found on the dog`s head, lower legs, rear, and abdomen.
Jamie Whittenburg (DVM) explains, “All masses grow from just a few microscopic cells into larger masses that may be felt on the dog. A `sudden` appearance of a mass or lump may be the owner just finding the mass for the first time, a very aggressive cancer, or even a cyst, seroma, or abscess filling with fluid.”
Most moveable lumps aren`t serious. In general, if the lump is soft and goes away on its own, it`s probably nothing to worry about. A neck lump that persists, grows, or hurts could be a sign of infection or other illness.
Fish oil, a potent source of omega-3s, has got a lot of scientifically proven benefits for dogs. It may be helpful in preventing and shrinking lipomas through several modes of action. Omega-3s may help reduce inflammation and obesity, keep the joints well lubricated and the skin and coat lustrous.
Lipomas are characterized as small, hemispherical lumps that can be felt just under your dog`s skin. The lump will likely feel somewhat soft and you will be able to move it a little, although it`s important to keep in mind that firmer, stationary lipomas are also fairly common.
Common food items that can be used to show tumor size in cm include: a pea (1 cm), a peanut (2 cm), a grape (3 cm), a walnut (4 cm), a lime (5 cm or 2 inches), an egg (6 cm), a peach (7 cm), and a grapefruit (10 cm or 4 inches).
They can feel firm or soft. Benign masses are more likely to be painful to the touch, such as with an abscess. Benign tumors also tend to grow more slowly, and many are smaller than 5 cm (2 inches) at their longest point. Sarcomas (cancerous growths) more often are painless.
Every person has hundreds of lymph nodes throughout the body. They are movable lumps approximately the size of a pea most typically founds in the armpits, collarbone, groin, and neck. Your lymph nodes swell in response to something as minor as a cold or due to mild infections.
A tumor may feel more like a rock than a grape. A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy.
Epidermoid cysts are small, hard lumps that grow under the skin. These slow-growing cysts frequently occur on the scalp and face. They don`t cause pain, and are skin-colored or yellow. A buildup of keratin below the skin is often the cause of epidermoid cysts.
Sometimes lumps can appear on dogs overnight — if they don`t seem to bother your pet, you can monitor the growth at home until your next vet visit. But, if your dog starts licking or scratching the bump, or it changes in appearance, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Sebaceous cysts: These cysts arise from the sebaceous glands of dogs. They`re filled with gross fatty material and they`re sometimes easily expressed, pimple-like. Most don`t get bigger than the size of a pea and they can get to feeling quite firm over time as the material within starts to dry and harden.
Bumps that are cancerous are typically large, hard, painless to the touch and appear spontaneously. The mass will grow in size steadily over the weeks and months. Cancerous lumps that can be felt from the outside of your body can appear in the breast, testicle, or neck, but also in the arms and legs.
It depends on how aggressive or advanced the particular cancer is. By the time it`s detected, some dogs will live weeks to months, while others will live for years. Lymphoma patients, for instance, can live several years.
Of submitted samples, 20% to 40% are reported to be malignant. The most common malignant skin tumors in dogs are mast cell tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. The most common benign canine skin and subcutaneous benign tumors include lipomas, histiocytomas, and perianal gland adenomas.
Feels like: A soft, movable bump just under your skin that`s not painful when touched. Could be: A lipoma, a benign tumor in the fat cells under the skin. Lipomas can pop up anywhere on the body, but they`re seen most commonly on the torso and neck.
A “doughy” lump is usually associated with a benign lipoma. Likewise, lumps that are harmless can often be accompanied by tenderness, pain, or drainage. Signs that suggest a lump might be concerning include: if it suddenly becomes very hard or feels like a rock under the skin.
Some could be the size of a pea while others could be larger. Any lump, no matter how big or small, could cause cancer. That said, the longer a cancerous lump grows, the greater the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. My 7 year old basset hound has had a soft, moveable, grape sized bump on his head for a year that doesn’t hurt. It’s now covered in old black blood?
ANSWER : A. You should look at taking him to your veterinarian to have it looked at. Be sure that it doesn’t need anti biotic and to check exactly what type of growth it is. Just try to keep it clean the best that you can until you can get in to see your vet.

Read Full Q/A … : Does my dog have cancer? What NOT to rely on!

Q. I have a 13 1/2 year old Shih Tzu. How old is he in dog years?
ANSWER : A. It’s used to be that dog years were 7 years to every 1. Now it normally around 5 years to every year as long as your dog is healthy and kept up with vaccines. So he’s about 68ish in dog years.

Read Full Q/A … : Shih Tzu Age

Q. Which common foods are poisonous to pets?
ANSWER : A. That’s a great question. As responsible pet owners we need to be aware of food items that can be harmful to our canine or feline companions. Here are some of the most common foods proven to cause illness in our animals at home:

Chocolate: A favorite and irresistible treat amongst most humans, chocolate is considered toxic to dogs. In very small amounts it is usually not a huge issue, but with larger volumes and with darker chocolates pet owners should be concerned. Chocolate contains methylxanthine theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. Chocolate ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, issues with normal heartbeats, seizures, and in some severe cases, death. It is best to keep your favorite chocolate treats in a good hiding spot and out of reach of your dog or cat.

Grapes and raisins: Dogs should not consume grapes and raisins because of the risk of acute kidney failure. Most dogs experiencing grape or raisin toxicity will begin to have vomiting and/or diarrhea within 6-12 hours of ingestion. Other abnormal clinical signs include lethargy, abdominal pain, dehydration, and tremors. Kidney failure develops within 24-72 hours of the initial ingestion. There are some dogs that do not experience these devastating side effects. It is best to contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency facility if you believe your pet has ingested grapes or raisins.

Garlic and onions: We often forget that our meals contain these two popular ingredients and will allow our furry companions a few bites or licks. Onion and garlic both can cause a type of poisoning that results in damage to red blood cells, making them more likely to rupture. They can also cause stomach upset and mouth irritation. Look for pale gums, increased breathing or drooling or any vomiting or diarrhea.

Bread dough: Unbaked bread dough is considered poisonous to our pets. The bread dough, when ingested, expands in the stomach because of the warm and moist environment. This can lead to a bloated or even twisted stomach. In addition yeast is often added to our baking products to help get bread to rise, and when this yeast is fermented it produces both carbon dioxide and alcohol. The alcohol produced can be absorbed into the bloodstream and causes dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Common clinical signs include vomiting or retching, distension of the stomach, weakness and collapse.

Macadamia nuts: Ingestion of these nuts are not proven to be fatal in dogs but can cause them to experience uncomfortable clinical sings, including fever, joint stiffness, vomiting, tremors and difficulty walking, especially in their hind legs. Often your pet will start to feel better after about 48 hours, but supportive veterinary care (such as pain medication) may help ease their discomfort.

Xylitol: The most common ingredient used in sugar-free gum is xylitol, which is a non-caloric sweetener. It is also found in some oral rinses, toothpastes and vitamins. Xylitol and dogs do not mix – it can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugars levels. Dogs will often display signs of disorientation, black tarry stool, tremors and seizures. If severe enough some dogs have developed liver failure. Keep your gum away from your canine companion.

Avocados: Avocados are not actually poisonous to dogs or cats but as many veterinarians can tell you the avocado pits can cause a foreign body obstruction. Avocados contain persin, which is actually toxic to the majority of pet birds. The abnormal clinical signs associated with avocado ingestion in birds include, respiratory distress, inability to perch, liver and kidney failure and sudden death.

Go forth and enjoy your favorite foods, but keep in mind which foods you should avoid sharing with your furry family members. Whenever in doubt, contact your veterinarian for healthy and safe food suggestions.

Read Full Q/A … : Foods That Can Be Poisonous to Pets : The Humane Society of …

Q. We have been treating our 5 year old cat for black bumps that we treated with Special Diet. These bumps grow over his body
ANSWER : A. If your cat has black bumps or other skin lesions forming that have not cleared up with preventive flea treatment or changes in diet, it may be time to request some additional testing as needed. Your vet can take a skin scraping of one of the lesions and send it to a Lab for various tests. One test includes growing any bacteria or fungus present, and then subjecting them to various medications to find which one is best to use. Other tests just look for certain growth patterns to determine if a fungus or bacteria is present which can be treated with oral or topical medications from your vet.

Cats can commonly have chin acne, which is the formation of little bumps that can be red or black in color and may sometimes break open and ooze debris. The cause of this acne is unknown, however one theory is that cats can actually get bacterial infections from rubbing their chins on plastic food dishes or dishes that are not cleaned often. Treatment may involve anywhere from none at all in minor cases, to use of wipes, creams or antibiotics for helping clear up any infection.

Read Full Q/A … : Cat Skin Problems Pictures Care and Treatment

Q. My Cocker Spaniel keeps getting lumps on her body. She has some on the top of her head that feel soft with about six or so clumped together.
ANSWER : A. Lumps and bumps are very common in dogs. They can be caused by any number of things ranging from allergic reactions, to pockets of infection under the skin, to various tumors and cysts. If the bumps are spreading rapidly, or are very bothersome to your dog it is best to have a vet look at it to make sure it is not serious.

Allergic reaction bumps will often appear as small, red, itchy pockets of bumps anywhere on the body. These are usually treated with an allergy medication or over the counter antihistamine. Abscesses are pockets of infection under the skin that usually are one large bump, however in spreading infections may have other bumps appear. These are often painful or hot to the touch, and may ooze debris that is yellow or greenish in color. Abscesses are usually drained and then an antibiotic given to clear up the infection. Some tumors can also appear as small bumps that begin to spread and their type can be determined through biopsy of the site if other more common causes are ruled out.

Until you can have your vet look at the lumps, it is best to stop your dog from licking or chewing at them. Licking and chewing can cause cuts and scrapes to open, allowing bacteria and infection to spread over the affected area. An Elizabethan collar, or a T-shirt over the affected area can help prevent licking and chewing.

Read Full Q/A … : My Cocker Spaniel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q. Does an indoor cat need to be vaccinated every year?
ANSWER : A. In practice, I recommend a feline combo vaccine every year, but will generally start administering every 3 years once they have had their kitten vaccines and 2 additional yearly vaccines. Rabies, is required yearly by law, and if kept up to date can be good for up to three years also. Based on the age of your cat I would give a yearly feline combo and rabies, and then boost the combo again next year.

Read Full Q/A … : Ask a Vet: How Often Do Cats Need Shots?

Q. Cat is over 13 years old, blood test show anemia, weight loss, increase appetite, thick nails, very vocal, blood test did not show thyroid disease,tre
ANSWER : A. It is possible another metabolic issue could be causing the anemia and weight loss, or a more in-depth thyroid test is needed beyond the basic panel. Anemia can be caused by a number of things including blood loss from internal or external bleeding, failure to produce enough blood cells, or destruction of the blood cells by the immune system. Looking for causes of anemia may help you to find the underlying cause causing your cat’s symptoms. Additional tests such as ultrasound, further blood work and more may be beneficial.

Read Full Q/A … : Hypothyroidism-Topic Overview – WebMD

Q. Lump has recently appeared in middle of Tara’s ear. It is soft and squashy, what is it?
ANSWER : A. Lumps and bumps are common in dogs and can be caused by a variety of things. If the lump you are seeing is located on the ear flap (called the pinna), it may also be something called a hematoma. Hematomas are swellings of blood that collect under the skin due to broken blood vessels. The vessels are most often broken by a dog shaking its head repeatedly or scratching at the ear. Care should be made to prevent your dog from pawing at the spot or shaking her head as it can make the problem worse. Hematomas are usually drained or surgically removed by your vet depending on severity, and may also be treated with an antibiotic to prevent infection.

Other lumps and bumps can include allergic reactions (usually small, red, itchy bumps), abscesses (pockets of infection stuck under the skin), or even tumors and cysts filled with material or fluids. It is best to have the ear examined by your local vet as the only 100% way to determine what the lump is, is through aspiration and taking a sample of the materials inside. Your vet can then provide treatment options ranging from draining and antibiotics, to surgical removal of more serious growths.

Read Full Q/A … : Vestibular Syndrome – strokes in dogs

joliana smith

My name is Sarah Smith and I am a dog owner, lover, and trainer. I have been working with dogs for over 10 years and have a passion for helping them learn and grow. I am a certified dog trainer and specialize in positive reinforcement methods. I believe that all dogs can learn and that the best way to train them is to build a strong relationship based on trust and respect.