Even though it might look like bloated skin patches, the hard movable lumps under the dog’s skin can pose serious medical problems that need immediate attention. As you can see in the pictures listed above and down below, some lumps look small at first but can quickly grow into large lumps of malignant tumors.
In this post, we will try to cover the culprits that are behind these lumps, but you have to come armed with the knowledge of your dog’s recent symptoms to correctly narrow down the answer. If you really don’t have the symptoms at hand, it is probably best to go to the vet for an immediate solution.
Causes of Hard Movable Lumps
Just as its description might state, the hard movable lumps under your dog’s skin can be all different sizes, and some lumps might be even growing in size. In our section down below, we will be covering several causes behind these conditions, and also cover the solutions to each specific culprit.
1. Non-Cancerous Lumps & Tumors (Benign)
This is probably the most common cause among them all since benign lumps are non-cancerous, which means it doesn’t pose a threat to your dog. In scientific terms, these lumps of fat are called lipomas, which means you can leave those lumps alone without any problems at all.
For benign lumps, your dog will not feel any pain if you touch those lumps. However, even lipomas can cause problems for your dog if it is located in uncomfortable positions or places that receive frequent friction such as the foot, around the eye, and even near the leg.
If those big lumps are causing problems with the basic functions of eating, seeing, walking, and hearing, you need to take those lumps out using surgical removal. Even though they are not harmful in and of themselves, their places of location might pose a threat to your dog’s daily pattern.
In addition, if your dog is scratching those lumps due to irritation, they might even be blood coming out of those lumps due to frequent licking and scratching. Even in those cases, you might need to consider removing those lumps to get rid of frequent irritation.
Solutions to Benign Lumps
Solutions to lipomas are really simple since you don’t have to do anything! Due to their nature of being non-cancerous, they will not pose any health risks for your dog, but as I have mentioned before, you need to take your dog to your vet to first determine whether or not these lumps are what they are supposed to be.
Don’t just assume that all of those bumps are non-cancerous since some of them might not be! Even if you do receive reports that those lumps are non-lethal, you need to keep a close eye on your pet to see if those lumps are causing problems to your dog’s daily habits.
However, if you want to try to remove those fatty lumps through medicated products, there are some in place for you. Formed specially for dogs, the Herbal Formula provides premium treatment for dogs with lipomas, phlegm nodules, fatty tumors, and even fatty lumps & bumps.
The first product listed above is really expensive when it comes down to medicated products, and if the price is somewhat bothering you, try this herbal product made by Tumoxil. With its natural ingredients, this product helps strengthen your dog’s immune system to naturally remove the fatty lumps.
2. Cancerous Bumps & Tumors (Malign)
You might have seen this coming from a long way off, but this is the reason why you have to check those lumps with your veterinarian. Malign tumors can be fatal to your dog if left untreated since they will quickly spread to other parts of your dog’s body, which can be very hard to treat down the road.
Cancerous tumors can do big damage to your dog’s body by attacking the liver (the organ that removes poison from your dog’s bloodstream) and lungs (essential to breathing, which is staying alive). Sometimes, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to remove any signs of cancer cells.
1st Example of Lumps 2nd Example of Possible Tumors
There is a broad range of cancerous tumors, and several specific examples are breast cancer and even bone tumors. Some cancerous cells are caused by direct exposure to sunlight, so make sure to keep your dog inside during the most heated part of the day. Even though the cause might be different, the result is always the same.
If left untreated, the cancerous cells will begin to spread to other parts of the body and begin to launch their attack on your dog’s immune system. Due to their rapid growth rate, they will quickly overcome the immune system in place and start to shut the whole system down, which is fatal for your dog’s health.
Solutions to Cancerous Tumors
Early detection leads to a successful treatment, which means you need to keep a close eye on your dog to detect these subtle changes. Spend time with your dog, and if you see a particular skin patch grow at an alarmingly rate or just popped up at the last second, be sure to get them checked out with professional help.
To recap, the best solution to cancerous tumors is with your vet’s help. Your awareness is also put to the test since earlier, the better! Also, frequently petting your dog and feeling for any hard, movable lumps under your dog’s skin can be a great way to start and end your day.
Even though going to a vet is a necessity, you can try to shore up your dog’s defenses against such attacks through immune supplements. For young dogs, Zesty Paws has developed a formula that boosts the immune system, helps with hips & joints, and improves gut, heart, and liver health.
This company has made another product for senior dogs, which includes even more benefits than the previous one. In addition to all those benefits, it adds support for brain health, eye health, and even the urinary tract as well. If you are interested, make sure to check them out using the links above.
3. Bacterial Infections
In this small section, we will be covering several types of bacterial infections that can result in lumps/bumps under your dog’s skin. Bacterial infection can lead to lumps that are filled with pus, which are scientifically named abscesses. To fix this, your vet will probably drain the fluid first and clean the area with antibiotics.
Also known as hives, the lumps are often portrayed as red rashes that swell and react to a particular allergen or insect bites. Due to your dog’s immune system fighting back, those patches of skin might cause irritation, which can lead to frequent scratching and even licking.
Last but not least, dogs can also undergo puberty stages in their life, which means they can have acne! Scientifically named sebaceous cysts, acne will look like small bumps under your dog’s skin with a cream-like substance inside them. In some cases, they can become irritated, which means they can become red and sore.
Solutions to Bacterial Infections
I have already mentioned a way that vets use to clean out abscesses since that is the only way to deal with pus-filled lumps. For hives and sebaceous cysts, time is the best solution for these types of infections since they will go away eventually if left undisturbed and untouched.
I don’t really have a product to recommend for abscesses since they can only be treated with professional help. For hives and acne, that is another matter altogether since those types of bacterial infections can be treated at home with the right medicated product.
Made by Curaseb, this medicated spray works great against bacterial infections, and it is often used to relieve pain and reduce irritation. Also used for hot spots, its innate ingredients (Aloe & Vitamin E) soothes dogs with rashes, redness, and irritation. Make sure to read the customer reviews before making your final choice!
Recommended by veterinarians, this second product is also a medicated spray that provides the first line of defense for potential wounds and skin infections. Providing painless relief from all those itching and licking, this solution works fast against any threat posed by bacterial infections.
What To Do For Lumps Near The Anal Area?
Most of the lumps that are formed near the anal area are cancerous, which means that they pose serious health risks to your dog. If you do see a formation of lumps/bumps near the anal area, take your dog immediately to the vet to check its status. In addition, their place of location can be uncomfortable for your dog.
This means that you might need to remove those lumps anyway regardless of their condition. Surgical removal is probably the most popular option here, but if those lumps have been in place for a long time, you might need to undergo chemotherapy or even radiation treatment.
Conclusion: Health Insurance?
You really don’t know where and when these health conditions might arise, and to prevent constant worrying about medical bills and vet visits, getting pet insurance might be a good alternative for your dog. You might not need it straight away, but as your dog continues to age, you might need it more often.
Investing in your dog’s future might sound funny at first, but if you truly value your dog, you might like the idea of insuring your pet’s medical bills. Going to a vet can become expensive at times, and receiving medical treatments and even surgeries can be very costly in the long run.
Before I let you go, I’m going to remind you one last time to keep a close eye on your dog. Constant supervision is hard to maintain but absolutely necessary if you want to become a responsible dog owner. Spend with him, and try to look for subtle signs of change in behavior and appearance along the way.
As always, the final choice is up to you. Make sure to do your part of the research, and I hope that this post about hard movable lumps under a dog’s skin was helpful to you. Sharing this information with others does help us a lot, and please visit our homepage for regular updates and more helpful guidelines!
