Finding a lump while brushing or stroking your pet is a shock for pet owners. It is associated with severe health conditions and an uncertain prognosis. Although you may immediately fear the worst, taking action as quickly as possible is the most crucial step. A qualified medical opinion will either put you at ease or allow you to start an appropriate treatment plan for your pet immediately.
English Springer Spaniels are prone to lumps. Most of these are non-cancerous lipomas; fatty growths under the skin. Other benign lumps are sebaceous cysts, abscesses, and hematomas. Mammary Gland and Mast Cell cancer also start as small lumps. A vet must examine your pet to diagnose the lumps.
It is common for the English Springer Spaniel breed to grow benign lumps under the skin. However, a check-up at the vet is always advisable to be sure. Being able to differentiate between the various lumps and know what to look out for is a good start to taking care of your pet’s health.
There Are Various Types Of Lumps Common To Springer Spaniels
As with all Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels are prone to lumps; these are most commonly Lipomas which are fatty lumps on the Spaniel’s torso, arms, and legs. They aren’t anything to be worried about unless they cause your pet discomfort.
Your pet may develop other lumps such as cysts, absences, warts, and hematomas. Even though these are non-cancerous, they will require diagnosis and treatment by a vet to be on the safe side.
Two types of cancer are prevalent in Springer Spaniels: Mammary Gland and Mast Cell. These aggressive forms of cancer need urgent medical attention to stop the spread and prolong your pet’s life.
Both start with small malignant pea-sized nodes. If you discover this type of lump, you need to pay a visit to the vet. For the best prognosis, your pet needs urgent medical treatment.
Lipomas Are The Most Common Lump On Springer Spaniels
Generally, lumps in English Springer Spaniels are Lipomas. These are fatty growths underneath the skin and on top of the muscle. Most of these lumps are harmless, presenting no health risk to your pet. Still, a vet’s opinion is better than an owner’s diagnosis.
Referred to as benign tumors, commonly found on your pet’s body, neck, arms, and legs, lipomas don’t spread to other places in the body. Hemispherically shaped, they are generally soft and easy to move around under the skin. They grow slowly, but they can get quite large.
There is no way to prevent lipomas often found on the bodies of middle-aged, overweight animals. Poor diet is, however, linked to lipomas. Managing food portions and adding exercise to your Spaniel’s daily regime could assist in halting the growth of lipomas or shrinking them. Ultimately lipomas are not preventable.
Animal experts suggest regularly measuring the size and taking a photo of the lipoma. They grow gradually but can grow as big as a basketball. A vet should examine your dog to see if the growth changes shape or proliferates.
Treating Lipomas In English Springer Spaniels
To ensure that Lipomas are not cancerous, your vet may do a fine needle aspiration to confirm this. A fine needle aspiration entails removing a small amount of tissue from the lump using a thin needle which is then analyzed to confirm its benign status.
Non-cancerous lipomas may become painful for your Springer Spaniel if they grow close to joints and interfere with your pet’s ability to move. These lumps could also form near organs and create discomfort for your dog. In this case, surgical removal will improve your pet’s mobility and general well-being.
Although not conclusively and medically proven, animal nutritionists suggest adding Omega 3 oils to your pet’s diet to shrink a fatty lump. Other natural remedies have reportedly succeeded in supporting your Spaniel’s immune system to prevent or shrink lipomas. These include camomile, Milk thistle, olive extract, Burdock root, apple cider, and alfa-alfa.
There Are Other Types Of Non-malignant Lumps Found on Dogs
Non-malignant fatty tissues are not the only type of lump found on English Springer Spaniels. Other lumps your pet may develop that have no serious health risks are:
- Sebaceous cysts will eventually burst and produce a white paste-like substance. They form when there is a build-up of oil that blocks a gland.
- Abscesses are of more concern than sebaceous cysts as they can become infected and will need an antibiotic to prevent further infection.
- A virus causes warts that may need removal if they grow too big or irritate your pet.
- Raised bruises above the skin are Hematomas caused by injury.
Some Lumps Can Be Cancerous
Unfortunately, not all lumps are benign. Some are cancerous and need urgent medical intervention. Either way, it would be best to visit your vet to determine whether any swelling requires medical attention. Malignant growths are likely hard, firmly attached, and not easy to move.
Mammary Tumors Are Common In Springer Spaniels
Springer Spaniels are predisposed to mammary tumors, and around 50% of these tumors are malignant. Middle-aged female Spaniels are most prone to this type of cancer. Spaying your pet as soon as it’s viable reduces the risk.
Mammary tumors present as superficial lumps just under the skin around the nipples. They are initially pea-sized, firmly attached to the mammary gland, and can double in size within a month.
These tumors spread rapidly and require urgent medical attention to stop the spread of cancer. Signs of these tumors include a discharge from the nipples, an ulcerated sore around the nipple, or general redness and inflammation around the area.
Your veterinarian will perform a biopsy to determine whether the lump is malignant or benign. If it is cancerous, your pet will require surgery to remove the tumor and chemotherapy to prevent the spread of cancer.
Springer Spaniels Are Also Prone To Mast Cell Tumours
A Mast Cell tumor appears as a lump just below or on the skin. They appear as raised bumps and can be red, swollen, or ulcerated. It is a malignant lump; the earlier the detection, the better the prognosis.
Mast cells are white cells. They are allergy cells that produce histamine. When a tumor develops, these cells multiply and can cause an allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock.
Mast Cell tumors degranulate and spread thought out the body. Metastisizing cancer is of concern, and early treatment is imperative. As with Mammary Gland cancer, the tumor will be removed, followed by chemotherapy.
Conclusion
English Springer Spaniels are prone to lumps. These lumps are often lipomas, which are fatty deposits and are considered benign tumors. Although these are not cancerous, they can grow large and cause discomfort. Other benign lumps your pet may develop are sebaceous cysts, abscesses, hematomas, and warts. Mammary Gland and Mast Cell tumors are malignant and start as tiny hard lumps that grow in size and eventually metastasize. Treatment generally includes surgery and chemotherapy to stop the spread of cancer. The prognosis is better for your dog with an early diagnosis.
