VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

Skin growth, lump, swelling or mass in cats

DIAGNOSIS

• Diagnostic tests may include:
• Take a complete history. Expect to answer the following questions:
• How long the growth has been there?
• Has it gotten larger or smaller or changes in appearance?
• Does the lump appear to be attached to the underlying skin?
• How fast is it is growing?
• Have there been any recent injuries or injections?
• Is there only one lump or are there others?
• Are there any changes in your pet's behavior, such as eating less, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy?
  • A complete physical exam should be done.  Pay particular attention to the appearance of the mass, whether it is hot or painful, whether it is within the skin or under the skin, if it is attached to underlying tissues and where it is located on the body. Additional tests include:
  • An aspirate of the mass with a small needle may be done to collect cells for staining and examination under a microscope (cytology). This test usually requires no anesthesia and often leads to a diagnosis.
  • If the mass is ulcerated or draining fluid, a microscope slide may be touched to the fluid to make an impression for microscopic examination.
  • A biopsy may be taken to send to a veterinary pathologist for examination. The biopsy may involve removing the entire mass or removing a piece of the mass.
  • A piece of tissue may be submitted for culture if infectious agents such as bacteria or fungi are suspected.

Treatment

• Treatment depends on the cause of the mass. There is no specific treatment for all skin growths.