This gives rise to the common dilemma of all masses: do we surgically remove them or observe them. Occasionally one can grow and become painful, and then surgery can be warranted. A cat or dog may have one of these that remains in the dermis but never grows and remains static for years. This is generally what we want all masses to be because they are benign – they are usually tiny glands in the skin that normally produce oils and other compounds that become blocked and swell. On fine needle aspiration, reactive lymph nodes give us a characteristic mix of inflammatory cells while lymphoma gives us mostly large abnormal lymph cells. However, if a lymph node is excessively large or has remained swollen for an extended period or the pet is lethargic then testing is indicated. Infections are common, lymphoma much less so. They can also swell when there is a cancer known as lymphoma. They will respond to infection by swelling to produce antibodies (known as a reactive lymph node). These include under the jaw, in front of the shoulders, in the armpits, in the groin and behind the knees (called stifles in dogs and cats). They are located symmetrically at points of drainage for all parts of the body. These are the glands that swell up under your jaw when you have a throat infection. Lymph nodes are part of all of our normal anatomy. We then spray the contents of the needle onto a slide and evaluate the slide in-house and/or send it off for cytology with the laboratory. We put a needle into the mass or area of suspicion, and pull back on the attached syringe. Essentially, it’s like the reverse of getting an injection. This is a relatively simple test that can be done during an appointment or on an outpatient basis. Do not be fooled by nipples – male cats and dogs have eight, just like the females, and then there are the lymph nodes. If you can’t tell if something might be normal, remember symmetry – if the pet has an identical swelling on the opposite side then it may be normal anatomy. Remember you are looking for lumps both on the surface and underneath to skin. Every pet over the age of 8 years should get this done once a month or at least once per season. Essentially, run your hands over your pet working systematically from the head to the tail, but covering all surfaces (including the legs and paws). This is a relatively simple process but one that we often forget to perform. In this discussion I will outline some of the characteristics of the different kinds of masses, diagnostic testing and treatment options and recommendations. The problem for owners is deciding which are more serious and which are not. Some of these can be considered “benign” (masses that grow very slowly or not at all and do not spread to other locations) while other may be more “malignant” (masses that grow rapidly and can have a higher tendency to spread to other locations). Almost everyone who has an older pet has encountered some abnormal lumps and bumps that have come up on various places on and under the skin.
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