6 month old labrador retriever

Question
My lab has a sore on her neck and on her belly she has a few rough and bumpy places. I was wondering if this was an allergy. I took her collar off but it has nothing to do with it, just didnt want it to bother the sore any more.  

Answer
Hi Lisa!

Yes. it is a good idea to keep the collar off while the bumps are there.

- Flaking or scabs. They can be a sign of parasites, allergies or a skin disorder.

-Lumps and bumps. These are usually a normal part of aging in pets., but sometimes they can indicate that something is seriously wrong. Catching them early can help your pet immensely.

Turn your abck on cysts. Don't panic if your vet discovers cysts a routine checkup. These fluid-filled sacs are almost always harmless, so the best thing is usually to ignore them.  Occasionally, however, cysts form in an area that gets a lot of friction-under the collar, for example, or around the anus-and they can get irritated and sor. If this happens, your vet may recommend having then surgically removed.

Keep them clean. Occasionally cysts will rupture on their own, which can cause the skin to become infected. You can can keep it clean with soap and water. Or you can apply rubbing alcohol several times a day. That will keep it from getting infected and reduce the itching.

Do a laying-on of hands. Frequently rubbing and stroking your pet is perhaps the best way to find potentially serious lumps early- and keep your ept happy at the same time!  Just as women check themselves for breast cancer monthly, go over your pet at least once a month. Just by running your hands over him frequently, you can pick up lumps and bumps.

Put up the beach umbrella. It'sot only two-legged sun-worshipers who are at risk for skin cancer. Pets that spend a lot of time outdoors-particularly light-coloured breeds with thin coats that live in areas like California and the Southwest-are also at higher rick for developing dangerous lumps or bumps. There are some animals, like bull terriers, that love to sun-bathe. You need to keep them out of the sun.

Slather on protection. If you live in a sunny clime or your pets spend a lot of time outdoors, they need sun protection. Some vets recommend coating them with sunscreen-preferably the same strength you use on yourself, like SPF 15. Apply sunscreen to his ears, nose and face, which are the areas most exposed to burning rays. Apply it every time your pet goes outdoors. Don't be concerned, however, if he licks it off. With the exception of products containing zinc, sunscreens aren't harmful to dogs or cats. Just apply some more.

Do a mouth check. It's not always fun to get up close and intimate, particularly when your best friend had been dining on liver and fish heads. But lumps that occur in the mouth are more likely to be dangerous than those found elsewhere on the body.It's important to periodically get your pet to open wide so you can do a careful inspection and perhaps cath them early. Look at the tongue, around the lips and inside the mouth. You'll have to look carefully, because the lumps can be quite small- sometimes not much bigger than a pencil point. If you find a lump you're not sure about, ask your vet to take a look.

WHEN TO SEE A VET

While the vast majority of lumps and bumps are harmless, it takes expert eye4s-and hands-to be sure. Every big tumor started out as a little one, so you shouldn't overlook them.Lumps are particularly worrisome in ats, since thy're sometimes a sign of cancer. So if you feel something unusual,call your vet right away.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Only your vet can say for sure if a lump or bump is harmless, but here are a few things you can look for.

-Uniformity. Benign lumps or bumps typically have a smooth shape, without irregualr or jagged edges.

-Malleability. Lups that are under the skin should move freely when you push against them. Lipomas, for example, feel like a glob of fat inder the skin.

-Localization. The lump should feel like a solid object and be confined to one spot. if it's branched out and seems to be covering a larger area, you should see your vet.

-Growth. Lumps that are dangerous tend to grow rapidly  and sometimes bleed. This type of lump should be seen by a vet right away.

I hope this is helpful and please keep me updated! Sending wagging tails your way! ...Nikki...