Dog Microchip Lump Identification and Veterinary Care

A lump on your dog's skin can be a worrying sight, but if you suspect it's a microchip lump, you're likely wondering what it means for your furry friend's health. This lump is actually a common side effect of microchipping.

The microchip lump is usually small, about 1-2 cm in size, and can be felt under the skin. It's typically firm to the touch and may be slightly raised. In most cases, the lump is not painful for your dog.

As the microchip absorbs fluid from the body, it can cause the lump to grow in size. However, this is usually a slow process and may not cause any discomfort for your dog.

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A lump on your dog can be a worrying thing to see. Most of the time, a lump under the skin of an old dog is a lipoma, or fatty tumour.

It's easy to assume a lump is harmless, but that's not always the case. The biggest mistake is assuming this without testing.

Some lumps are hard, some are soft, and some move under the skin. But the idea that you can identify a lump by whether it's hard or soft, or whether it moves under the skin is false.

Even the most serious tumours may not affect your dog's health or behaviour at first.

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Most lumps and bumps on a dog's skin are benign, but there are other kinds that can be more dangerous. Your vet can identify most lumps straight away.

Most lumps are fatty tumors, but there are also warts, abscesses, sebaceous cysts, and mast cell tumors. Some of these lumps can be more serious than others.

Here are some common types of lumps on dogs:

Most lumps on a dog's skin are benign and can be identified by a vet. Your vet can often tell if a lump is benign just by looking at it.

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There are several types of lumps that can appear on a dog's skin, including fatty tumors, warts, abscesses, sebaceous cysts, and mast cell tumors. Fatty tumors are the most common type of lump.

A lump under the skin of an old dog is often a lipoma, or fatty tumor, but it's essential to test it to be sure. Even the most experienced vet can't always tell if a lump is a lipoma or something more serious just by feeling it.

You can't identify a lump by whether it's hard or soft, or whether it moves under the skin. This is a common myth that can lead to misdiagnosis.

Here's a list of common lumps that can appear on a dog's skin:

The sooner you get a lump checked, the better. A vet will often start with a fine needle aspiration to identify the lump.

If your dog has a lump, it's essential to act quickly. The sooner you see a vet, the more options you'll have.

Most lumps are benign, and your vet can often identify them straight away. However, it's crucial not to assume the lump is harmless without testing.

A fine needle aspiration is usually the first step, which can immediately identify a lipoma or cyst. Other tumours require further testing.

There are three main choices for further testing: sending the slide of aspirated material to a pathologist, scheduling an incisional biopsy, or scheduling an excisional biopsy. However, an excisional biopsy is never a good idea without analysis unless the vet is certain the lump is benign.

Here are the options in more detail:

The single greatest influence on a successful outcome will be how quickly you choose to get a lump checked. No vet likes to see a lump for the first time and think, "I hope this is benign, because if it's not..."