Mass Removal

It usually happens during a quiet moment. You’re cuddling on the couch, brushing your dog’s coat, or scratching your cat behind the ears, and suddenly, your fingers brush against something that wasn’t there before. A lump. A bump. A growth.

For any pet parent, this discovery triggers an immediate wave of anxiety. Is it dangerous? Is it cancer? Does it hurt them?

First, take a deep breath. While discovering a new mass on your pet is concerning, it is not always a worst-case scenario. Many growths are benign and treatable. However, waiting and hoping it goes away is rarely the right strategy.

At Adobe Veterinary Clinic, we specialize in soft tissue surgery and mass removal. We understand that your pet is family, and our goal is to provide you with clear answers, compassionate care, and the most effective treatment plan to keep your companion healthy.

Why Mass Removal is More Than Just “Surgery”

When we talk about removing a mass, we aren’t just talking about taking a lump off your pet’s skin. We are talking about a crucial diagnostic and curative step.

Mass removal serves two primary purposes:

1. Therapeutic: It physically removes a growth that might be causing irritation, pain, or mobility issues.
2. Diagnostic: It provides the tissue samples necessary to tell us exactly what we are dealing with.

Without removal and analysis, even the most experienced veterinarian can only make an educated guess about a lump based on how it looks and feels. Surgery provides the definitive answers you need to make future healthcare decisions for your pet.

Things We Can Discover Through Mass Removal

One of the most common questions we hear is, “If it doesn’t seem to bother him, why should we remove it?” The answer lies in what happens after the surgery. When we remove a mass at Adobe Veterinary Clinic, we typically recommend sending the tissue to a laboratory for histopathology (biopsy analysis).

Here is what this process helps us determine:

1. Benign vs. Malignant

This is the most critical distinction.

• Benign masses (like lipomas or warts) are non-cancerous. They do not spread to other parts of the body. Once removed, they are often cured, though some pets are prone to growing new ones.
• Malignant tumors (cancer) have the potential to invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to organs like the lungs or liver.

2. Tumor Grading

If a mass is determined to be cancerous, the laboratory assigns it a “grade.”

• Low-grade tumors are less aggressive and have a lower chance of spreading.
• High-grade tumors are aggressive and may require additional treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation, following surgery.
  Knowing the grade allows us to give you a realistic prognosis and a roadmap for further care.

3. Surgical Margins

Did we get it all? This is perhaps the most valuable piece of information we gain. The pathologist looks at the edges of the removed tissue under a microscope.

• Clean margins mean the tumor is surrounded by healthy tissue, indicating the entire mass was likely removed.
• Dirty (or incomplete) margins mean tumor cells extend to the edge of the sample, suggesting some cancer cells may remain in your pet’s body. This alerts us that a second surgery or additional therapy might be needed.

Why Choose Adobe Veterinary Clinic for Mass Removal?

Surgery can be a stressful experience for both you and your pet. You need a team that combines medical excellence with genuine empathy. Here is why pet owners in Mesa and the surrounding areas trust Adobe Veterinary Clinic with these delicate procedures.

Comprehensive Pre-Surgical Screening

We never rush into surgery. Every patient undergoes a thorough pre-operative evaluation. This includes physical exams and blood work to ensure your pet’s liver and kidneys can handle anesthesia safely. If we have concerns about the mass spreading, we may also recommend X-rays or ultrasounds before the procedure.

Advanced Pain Management

Your pet’s comfort is our top priority. We utilize a multi-modal approach to pain management. This means we treat pain before it starts, using medications prior to anesthesia, local blocks during surgery, and sending you home with appropriate pain relief to ensure a comfortable recovery.

Precise Surgical Techniques

Whether it is a small skin tag or a large, complex tumor, our veterinary team uses advanced surgical techniques to reduce recovery time. We focus on achieving clean margins while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible to allow for proper healing and minimal scarring.

Clear Communication

We believe an informed pet owner is an empowered pet owner. From the initial consultation to the phone call with your biopsy results, we explain every step without confusing medical jargon. We want you to understand exactly what is happening with your pet’s health.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mass Removal

We know you probably have a list of questions running through your mind. Here are answers to some of the most common inquiries we receive at the clinic.

How do I know if a lump needs to be removed?

Not every lump requires immediate surgery, but every lump should be evaluated. We recommend scheduling an exam if a lump is:

• Rapidly growing or changing shape.
• Changing color or bleeding.
• Located in an area that restricts movement (like under an “armpit”).
• Causing your pet to lick or scratch the area excessively.

What is the recovery time for mass removal?

Recovery depends on the size and location of the mass. Generally, the skin heals within 10 to 14 days. During this time, your pet will likely need to wear an E-collar (the “cone of shame”) to prevent licking the incision. We will also advise restricting their activity; no running or jumping to prevent the stitches from opening.

Can’t you just use a needle to test it?

We can! This is called a Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA). It involves poking the lump with a small needle to collect cells for a microscope slide. While FNA is a great first step and is less invasive, it is not always 100% diagnostic. Some tumors don’t shed cells easily, and an FNA cannot tell us the grade of a tumor or if we have clean margins. Surgical removal and biopsy remain the gold standard for diagnosis.

Will the lump grow back?

If the mass is a benign lipoma (fatty tumor) or a cyst, it will not grow back in the same spot once fully removed. However, some pets are genetically prone to these and may develop new lumps elsewhere. If the mass is cancerous and was not fully removed (incomplete margins), regrowth is possible, which is why post-surgical testing is so important.

Taking the Next Step for Your Pet’s Health

Finding a lump on your dog or cat is scary, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Early detection and treatment are your pet’s best defense against serious illness.

If you have found a new growth on your pet, or if you are monitoring a lump that has started to change, it is time to get answers. At Adobe Veterinary Clinic, we are here to guide you from diagnosis to recovery, ensuring your best friend gets the world-class care they deserve.

Don’t wait and worry. Let us help you find peace of mind.