Lump In Dog’s Throat: Detect, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Do you have a dog that with a lump in his throat? Are you worried if it is cancerous or not? Then you are on the right page!
A lump in the throat of your dog is an understandable concern. Although this is a rare case, it is still important to know more about it. Even if you are an expert dog owner or the first time you have adopted a pooch, you need to be familiar with this rare disease. If you’re familiar with the disease, then you know what you need to do first–you’ll be aware of the dos and don’t, and the steps you need to take to help your furry friend.
We all love dogs and we never want them to suffer. So, what should you do?
Don’t worry, dog lovers! You’d know more about this health concern in this article. Don’t panic, therefore. Keep calm, get your pen and paper and take down the important things I’m going to share with you.
Here are the things you should know about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for lumps in your dog’s throat:
How to detect the lump in your dog’s throat?
It’s really easy to detect the lump in your dog’s throat. No need whatsoever for a complicated procedure. Why? Because we usually pet our dogs in the area where you can feel it.
Note that lumps may appear as a ball under the skin of your doggo. DON’T PANIC if you feel it!
Once you feel like your dog’s throat has a “ball-like” flesh, ascertain whether it’s soft or hard and if it is hurting your pooch or not. Knowing not only the lump’s appearance but also its consistency is really necessary.
Lump in your dog’s throat: What are the symptoms?
You should always remember as a dog owner, expert or first-time dog parent that it is important to note whether your pooch shows other symptoms. Observing the behavior of your dog and taking note of the changes can be very helpful, especially to your veterinarian.
The following are the symptoms that expert dog owners and vets usually notice if the pooch lumps in their throat:
- Weight loss. Because of the difficulty in your dog’s eating food and drinking water, it may start losing more and more weight.
- Difficulty breathing. They may experience breathing difficulties because of the illness, meaning your dog may breathe with their mouth opened.
- Weakness
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- Changes in voice and loss of bark.
- Always thirsty than usual.
- Changes in the frequency of urination.
- Depression or change in behavior.
- Drooling
- Poor stamina
- Changes in drinking.
- Vomiting
- Swelling in the neck area.
- Coughing
- Odorous breath
Note: In general if the lump is cancerous, it is really important to spot these symptoms. Early detection is the key to helping your dog because whatever you do if you ignore the early signs, you may have risked your pooch’s life–it’s going to be too late to save them.
What are the causes of the lump in your dog’s throat?
Some say the cause of this disease is still unknown, but there are a number of reasons why your dog got a lump in their throat, according to Dog’s Health Problem website. But, if these said “causes” are true or not, the only way to know is to consult your vet.
Since veterinarians know the ins and outs in dog health, they can easily find the lump’s underlying cause by doing a few simple tests.
The cause of the lump in your dog’s throat can be benign or malignant. Listed below are some of the possible causes of the lump in your dog’s throat:
- Fatty mass
- Genetics
- Environment
- Problem in salivary gland
- Presence of an abscess
- Tumor
- Viral bacteria or infection
- Allergy
- Parasites
- Age of the dog
- Cancerous cells
- Call malformation
The fatty mass is one of the most common causes of the lump in your dog’s throat, based on the report from Dog’s Health Problem.
This fatty mass is called lipoma by the vets. A lipoma is an accumulation of fat under the skin of your pet. Usually, it is soft and easy to move under your dog’s skin.
Note: As a dog owner, you should always remember that soft masses are not automatically lipomas.
What do you need to do if you found out that your dog has a lump in their throat?
First and foremost, when you feel there’s a ball-like appearance in your dog’s throat, you need to schedule a vet checkup. The best thing you can do is to ask for professional help, especially if you’re a dog owner for the first time or you don’t know what kind of illness your dog has.
Never act as a vet because you may endanger the health of your dog, or worse, their lives. So, remember, seek professional help at all times. Never rely on what you’ve just heard or read because it’s really important to be accurate in times like this to save your dog from a more severe health issue.
Lump in your dog’s throat: Diagnosis
If you’re adopting a dog, knowing its background is vital. Legally adopting a dog means you can familiarize yourself with where the pup came from, what are the parents ‘ health issues it might inherit, etc.
Knowing your pooch’s complete medical history is vital because it may help your veterinarian. Vets will conduct tests to determine your dog’s condition and to assess the stage the lump has reached.
Here are some of the tests that your vet might do when you consult them about your dog’s lump in the throat:
- Physical examination
- Blood test
- X-rays
- Cytology
- Full surgical excision
- Mapping
Lump in your dog’s throat: Treatment
The treatment will always depend on the nature of illness and the stage it has attained. In addition, the course of treatment also depends on the lump’s size. However, here are the options that your vet might suggest if your dog has a lump in their throat to guide you and prepare you for the said treatments.
- Surgically removing the lump in your dog’s throat.
- If you are dealing with a cancerous lump, radioactive treatment may be an option. It is considered an effective method of treating thyroid tumor.
Types of throat tumors in dogs
- Tonsillar tumor
- Laryngeal tumor
- Esophageal tumor
- Tracheal tumor
- Mast Cell tumor
- Thyroid tumor
If your dog is diagnosed with throat cancer, it is important to remember that you should not leash him anymore. Find an alternative way to monitor your dog or to keep your dog near you.
Take note: Usually, cancerous bumps are large, painless, and hard. In the meantime, cancerous lumps can be felt outside the skin of the body of your dog. It may appear in their neck, legs, or arms.
If cancerous, how long do dogs live?
Eventually, the untreated disease will kill your dog in a snap–dogs can live for up to two months, more or less. However, if you consult a veterinarian as soon as you notice changes in the health and behavior of your dog, you can prolong their lives and even save them from a more serious and deadly health problem.
Recovery from the treatment
Remember that the recurrence of the same disease is also possible in dogs, just like humans. So, you really need to monitor the health and behavior of your dog. Always check them out and have a regular check-up to find out your pet’s condition.
Be more conscious about your dog’s diet during and after the treatment. Having your dog’s “diet plan” is a great way to help them recover quickly and stay healthy. Do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian for your dog’s recommended diet plan.
It is important that you put them in an area where they can fully rest during the recovery phase. The best place for them is a quiet, comfortable area. It is helpful to keep them away from people to avoid stress.
Lump in your dog’s throat: Final thoughts
You should report immediately to your vet any bumps and lumps you noticed in your dog. Whether it’s old or new, big or small, it doesn’t matter – it’s important to head straight to your vet so the disease can be treated immediately.
It is really important to take the right steps when dealing with this type of situation as it involves your pet’s health and possibly life. Again, if you don’t know anything, never act like a vet. To know what is the best thing to do first, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
It is also important to keep calm at times like this. You don’t have to feel under pressure. Don’t be in a panic. When dealing with an unfamiliar health issue, the presence of mind is really important. It makes you more aware of the right thing to do when you are calm.
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