Tumor and Mass Removal at Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center

It's only natural to be alarmed when you're petting your dog or cat and feel a strange lump that wasn't there before. Masses and tumors do occur in pets, and not infrequently. Even though some of these lumps turn out to be harmless, others can be dangerous cancers. Fortunately, our Gresham and Troutdale veterinary team at Paws & Claws Medical Center can perform the necessary tumor or mass removal and test the mass or tumor for malignancy.

Understanding Dog and Cat Masses and Tumors

Your dog or cat is more likely than not to develop some sort of suspicious mass at some point in his life. These lesions can be caused by a variety of issues, some more worrying than others. Examples include:

• Lipoma - A benign mass made of fat cells
• Mast cell tumors - Red, itchy tumors that tend to afflict short-faced animals
• Melanoma - A dangerous, aggressive cancer of the pigment-carrying skin cells
• Lymphoma - Cancer of the lymph nodes
• Papilloma - Benign tumors that take the form of warts
• Osteosarcoma - Bone cancer, a common affliction in large-breed dogs

Some cancerous tumors may develop in the internal organs or metastasize to the organs from some other primary type of cancer, such as melanoma.

From to Expect From Our Mass and Tumor Removal Services

It's always a good idea to get any unexplained lump checked by any Gresham or Troutdale veterinarian on our team. We will often recommend that a mass or tumor be removed if only so we can perform a biopsy from a tissue sample. Once a preliminary exam has been performed, we will sedate or anesthetize your pet to perform this surgery.

The results of the biopsy can tell us whether the mass or tumor is benign or malignant. If the mass is benign, then its removal is the end of the matter. If we find evidence of malignant cancer, we will want to take immediate steps to remove any remaining cancerous tissue. This may include additional surgery and/or treatment methods such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Once your pet is safely home, you'll need to make sure you give him his prescribed pain medication and follow our instructions for monitoring his recuperation. The amount of pain medication and length of recovery time will depend on how invasive the mass or tumor removal was.

Call Your Gresham or Troutdale Veterinarian

If your pet has a mass that needs attention, don't hesitate to bring him to Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center. Call 503-661-1833 for an appointment with your Gresham or Troutdale veterinarian!