Histiocytomas in Dogs

Dr. Lera talks about histiocytomas in dogs with Ace.
Histiocytomas in dogs are small skin growths that occur most commonly in young dogs under 3 years of age. These benign growths appear suddenly-pet owners will often say overnight-but histiocytomas generally take 1-4 weeks to sprout. Histiocytomas can occur anywhere on a dog’s body, but they usually show up on the front half, particularly the head and the ears. They are especially common in Boxers and Dachshunds, and they account for almost 1/5 of canine skin tumors. Histiocytomas in dogs typically have no symptoms other than the sudden eruption of a domed pink growth on the skin. These growths are neither painful nor itchy in most cases, although both symptoms are possible. In rare cases, nearby lymph nodes can become swollen. Histiocytomas located near a dog’s eye may cause irritation, leading to eye redness and discharge. (source: petted.com)
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[@aliceosborne8204]

For anyone with an older dog panicking about a lump...my seven year old collie had surgery for an angry red raw lump on his side. Turned out to be histiocytoma. The vet hadn't even mentioned it as a possibility as they didn't think it was common in dogs under three. It was benign and all is well!🙏🙏🙏

[@cathywashington1806]

Thanks for the information

[@DrLera]

Our pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@CJ-nf5jd]

Good informational videos. Thank you.

[@richpalmath9]

Thanks for putting this out there helps us in understanding the condition that our pet has.

[@DrLera]

Our pleasure!

[@belindafigueroa6346]

I love your videos! You provide good info!

[@DrLera]

Thank you so much for watching Belinda!

[@normagonzales6599]

Yes, I just noticed a little red bump on my dogshead and was concerned, but I will keep an eye on the bump. It just came up within just a few weeks. I appreciate your video. I appreciate your video. It explains a lot. Thank you.

[@DrLera]

Glad you found it helpful, best of luck!

[@CaemahdlO]

I think this is what my young dog has. I had it checked & vet said about a biopsy, but she said nothing about histiocytoma's & actually said its rare for young dogs to have tumours. Im glad I watched this video. I will keep an eye on it & if no change I will have it tested

[@House_of_Frenchies]

Thank you for posting

[@DrLera]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@nairovisburgos466]

Thanks so much. Very informative

[@DrLera]

Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching!

[@courtniemcginty9929]

Excellent explanation of histiocytoma; my dog has had a mass on his muzzle for several months; my vet did the needle aspiration and as your video explained she didn’t find anything. I will b taking him to a dermatologist to try the cryotherapy to freeze it off. Thank you!!

[@christiewells6263]

Thank you for sharing this information. It is very helpful ❤

[@DrLera]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!

[@IonelCristianPreda]

thanks

[@DrLera]

You're welcome!

[@KR-kh4or]

Awaiting results of patho report to discern whether histio or mast cells so thank you for the video.

[@Tamw93]

Thank you I believe my dog has it on his ear Your video is very helpful

[@DrLera]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cammybhoy7281]

I have an 11 year old Staffordshire terrier and I think he has a histiocytoma but my local vets said that's its impossible that he has a histiocytoma due to his age although it looks identical to one I'd just love some info from a vet I trust like yourself

[@nuvision1955]

Would like to see pictures of these lesions, thank you.

[@amypruitt9271]

me too!

[@ha_2019]

Would you reccomend having your dog seen when this pops up? Or waiting the 2-3 months for it to go away? I have and 4 yr old english bulldog with one on his toe (i suspect)

[@ozbulitsinces1996]

Can a few pop up at ones ? On the ear flap

[@janrobertdeleon2657]

Does oral treatment of Prednisone and topical DMSO helps?

[@ljm_2011]

Hey Doc! Hope all is well. We have a 12mo mini doxxie, I know these are supposed to be SUPER common in weens and boxers. She had a bump pop up by her eye. No hair, firm, kinda pink but not bad, doesn’t seem to bother her at all. The only time I’ve notice it get a little inflamed is cause she scratched it while scratching another part on her face lol. Would you suggest waiting the month or two to see if it goes away and then take her to get it checked out?

[@kenyattal1821]

My Australian cattle dog has one on his tail that I just noticed but I don’t have the $504 to have it biopsy so what should I do?

[@OoThereSheGo]

My 11 month old pitbull has one. It turned bright red had slight blood. I’ve been putting warm compresses and neosporin on it. She had it all month , waiting 2 more months to see if it goes away first.

[@highendforever]

I’m on the same boat ugh 😢🙏

[@highendforever]

My frenchie is 11 months with same condition it’s above his eye

[@bklynsteph66]

😍

[@g.kulchycki4550]

My dog has a histocytoma on his tail. I'm keeping an antibiotic ointment on it and bandaging it. My question is ...there's a hole in the center...does that require other treatments? He's 12 years old schnauzer shitzu. Thank you in advance

[@1007739]

How does it go away on its own? Does it fall off? My pup has one on the nose the vet suggested to wait to do biopsy.

[@armandoferreira9849]

Hi I have a question my 2 year old dog has a round pink lump on her front left paw on the side its hard no hair on it doesn't hurt her when we touch it she doesn't lick it or does nothing to it yesterday the pink round lump Little blood on it but she doesn't react to it it's the size of a pea hasn't gone any bigger looking for any advice thank you kind regards

[@tanyahaasbeek]

How do you differentiate between histiocytoma and mast cell tumors in a 2 year old lab with a mass above her nose?

[@StaceyAbbott1982]

My vet did a needle aspiration and looked at the cells under a microscope. She said she thinks it's a histiocytoma and wait for it to go on it's own. If it hasn't gone in 8 weeks we need to go back. My lab is 2.5 and I've just started using apple cider vinegar on it as it's not budging and it's on his muzzle. Did you get anywhere with freezing it off? How's your dog now? I was told anything over 3 months was worrisome. Thank you

[@ALex-yv8xw]

What does this look like ?

[@JaYnUk5]

Just found one in my 10mo old puppy’s inner ear. Probably a little smaller than my pinky fingernail. Should I be worried?

[@KarenLivreri-lx1ut]

One of my chocolate labs got a histiocytoma on her vulva when she was about four months old. I didn’t go away and they removed it and she is fine. Her aunt is five years old and just also had one show up on her vulva in the exact same spot! What are the odds of that?!

[@KarenLivreri-lx1ut]

It* didn’t go away. PS thank you for making this video. I was really worried since my older dog came down with it. But this video give me a lot of relief.

[@elrincondeaba9546]

If is on the snout does it needs to be removed ? Do we put antibiotic ointment ?

[@DrLera]

No if you know that it is a histiocytoma it does not need to be removed. Putting antibiotic ointment won't hurt but not sure if it is necessary. The question would whether you are guessing or are certain it is a histiocytoma. If unsure I would get a biopsy by taking a chunk of tissue out and send it out for histopathology to find out what it is because it is in a location that doesn't have a lot of tissue I would be more proactive about it

[@rishabchopra2832]

Hi, I have a year old golden retriever and he has diagnosed with histiocytoma and the vet has suggested us to go for a couple of chemotherapy. Will it be safe for him to go under chemo?

[@DrLera]

I think there may be some confusion as to what your dog has. If your dog truly has a hysterocytoma the majority of those will resolve on their own in a few months. You'll need to get a confirmation as to what exactly it is and see why it is he would potentially need chemotherapy. It may be something other than a histiocytoma

[@ashleyhamer8954]

My vet diagnosed my Amstaff with one of these in his groin area. My question is, how can you tell if it's infected? I'm starting to see some deep red and even some dark blue/almost black coloring on it. Is that just part of the healing process?

[@DrLera]

Yes it is part of the process but if there is any concern about infection you would most likely be able to address it with topical antimicrobial therapy

[@lu-annjuleaw9124]

Mine has one on her front page at 12 weeks vet said it was a puppy button tumor and it would go away on her own I thought it was a reaction from her puppy vaccines it did just spprst overnight

[@bubblesthecorgis]

Hi doc, I have a question. Is this common for 9 year old doc to have that?

[@DrLera]

It's much more common in younger dogs. I want to say I've seen it about 90 to 95% of the time and younger dogs. Can happen in older dogs for sure just not as common

[@vanessaramos8695]

My dog has a histiocytoma, we didn’t do a histopatholgy but we did do 2 FNA which you mentioned in the video and both FBA our vet says confirmed it’s a histiocytoma. It’s been there for 5 months now, our vet does want to remove it but our dog is older almost 15, and I’m told it would need to be an extensive surgery requiring a flap. What would be the best course of action ? It was ulcerating but it has since stoped, the area used to be one whole dome shaped and now is half dome shaped and half flat. Wondering if this is a characteristic of a histiocytoma, does it mean it’s healing? So far it has stopped at 5cm.

[@DrLera]

It can be diagnosed by cytology some of them will require removal to eliminate their presence. If you want it gone without necessarily having to put him under anesthesia you could potentially consider cryosurgery where they freeze the growth. It's kind of it's exactly what they do for humans when they have warts. Hopefully this helps. Have a blessed day

[@vanessaramos8695]

@@DrLera thank you very much! I’ve been doing some reading on cryosurgery and it’s Definately something we are leaning towards doing. It’s not bothering our dog at all but the fact that it’s there is quite worrisome. Thank you for your reply. Have a wonderful day as well :)

[@roxbad1157]

@@DrLera My dog is 14 1/2 yo.Golden Retriever He has a tumor on the lower eyelid, which grew in about 10 days to about 1 cm. It doesn't bother him ,it is towards the external angle of the eyelid.But it draws the lower eylid down as in almost ectropion. Macroscopically it looks like a hystiocytoma. I am scheduled in 2 days to go with him for removal.My question is if in that location one can do cryosurgery instead of surgical removal.

[@DrLera]

You can do cryo surgery in that area. You would just need a cryopin to do the procedure more precisely. Most of the time the opthamologist are the ones that have that equipment because they find me opportunities to use it frequently

[@user-wy1hv3or2b]

Can this pop up on a dog's lower lip on the top

[@rockfordhx2768]

Yes

[@shootersara]

Our 9 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback has one in his back leg near his rear dew claw. It was the size of a green pea a week ago. It has grown to the size of a chick pea now. Vet said it is nothing to worry about unless it triples in size. He is starting to lick it now though.

[@maliachandler]

I found one on my dogs cheek a little over a week ago and it has already grown in size. She’s 3 and has already had two surgeries so I don’t want to have this surgically removed. I hope your pup’s lump heals quickly.

[@rockfordhx2768]

Any updates my 3 month old pup has it in the same area u metiones

[@saramccoy3936]

He no longer gets them now that he is grown. ​@@rockfordhx2768

[@snugzgiddens3238]

Any updates on this ? Please?

[@shootersara]

It went away on its own. He hasn't had one since.

[@chriscarlton1122]

If I was to wanna freeze it at home what do I use?? Could I use freeze away like for a wart or should I use dry ice,or maybe butane,ether based starter fluid.. I can't afford a vet bill so I'm stuck doing a home treatment remedy..