My dog has large, non-painful moles. Should I get them removed?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These can definitely feel firm as they usually do. These could be benign or malignant growths. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

I am assuming that your vet did a needle aspirate and wasn't able to get a diagnosis. The only way to know the cause of the lumps would be to remove them and submit to a lab for biopsy. As long as he is otherwise healthy then the risk of anesthesia is low. If he needs a dental cleaning then your vet could do both at the same time. If you don't want to have them removed then you could monitor for a month or so and see how the lumps change. If they are growing then they really should be removed.

Anytime a new mass is noticed, I always recommend having it evaluated to see what it is and if anything needs to be done about it. Unfortunately, we often can't tell anything about a mass by just looking at it. Your vet can perform a simple test called a fine needle aspirate where they use a small needle to collect some cells from the mass, then look at them under the microscope. They may even need to send the cells to the lab for a pathologist to examine them, so we know what the mass is. If it is benign, you might not need to do anything about the mass at all, but if they see cells that worry them, they might recommend removing the mass. Since Qbert has scratched the mass, I think it is certainly worth having your veterinarian examine it again and evaluate a sample to make sure that it is benign. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry that Chip's mass is starting to bother him. I typically recommend removing these masses for the reasons you listed above (growing and bothering the patient). If he will already be under anesthesia for another surgery, this can be a convenient time to have it done. Discuss it with your veteriarian, but I think it will make Chip more comfortable and save him from going under anesthesia a second time. Good luck!

Hello! I certainly understand your concern and agree it is a bit worrisome that the mass keeps changing. I think getting the new mass and the old one checked would be a good idea. The masses certainly look small so it might be hard to get a sample without completely removing the masses. There are two ways to test these masses.: A fine needle aspirate is less invasive but may be really hard for very small masses. For this procedure a small needle is inserted in the mass and cells are collected. Pets can be awake and they don’t need stitches. This procedure will generally yield an answer but sometimes they can’t collect enough cells. A biopsy involves removing the entire mass by cutting it away from the skin. This will likely give you a firm answer as to what it is. For this procedure, most pets will need at least a mild sedation and 1 to 2 stitches. Make an appointment to have Max examined and discuss these options with your veterinarian to figure out which one is the best route to go. The main concern with a dark colored mass that is changing is melanoma, but it could absolutely be some thing benign as well. It’s really difficult to know without getting a sample. I hope this helps and that it turns out to be nothing serious!!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

This could be either a benign or malignant growth. Based on Kane's age, it is more likely a benign growth. I recommend that you have Kane evaluated by your veterinarian to have a fine needle aspiration of the mass to find out what it is. This is a very easy, quick and pain-free procedure that takes little time and could provide a diagnosis to help determine the best course of action. Best of luck with Kane!