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Yeast Infections in Dogs [GIVEAWAY!]

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about yeast infections in dogs, specifically their ears.

Yeast Infections in Dogs

Yeast infections are caused by Candida, a sugar-digesting yeast that forms naturally in your dog’s mouth, nose, ears, gastrointestinal, and genital tracts. When there is an overgrowth of Candida in the dog’s body, Candidiasis, or a yeast infection, occurs. While yeast infections can affect any dog, Candida is opportunistic and will often impact immuno-suppressed animals.

Yeast infections can affect a single part of the body or multiple parts at once. Either way, your dog will be uncomfortable and you should seek treatment.

Causes

There are several possible risk factors for dogs who suffer from yeast infections. Any dog with traumatized, dying, or inflamed skin has a higher likelihood of being affected. Dogs with diabetes, urinary retention, or indwelling catheters are also at a higher risk. Sometimes, an underlying condition such as allergies, bacterial infection, ruptured ear drum, or trapped object will cause a yeast infection in the ear.

Symptoms

Symptoms will vary based on the location of the infection. The most common location for yeast infections in dogs is in the ear canal, which is what I want to focus on in this post.

Symptoms will include:

  • Shaking, rubbing, or scratching their head
  • Visible waxy residue
  • Scabbing or redness along the outside of ear
  • Smelly ears
  • Loss of hair around the ear
  • Loss of balance
  • Loss of hearing

Treatment

First, your vet will look into your dog’s infected ear to determine if the eardrum is intact or if a foreign object is causing the infection. Outer ear canal infections will most likely be treated with a topical antifungal cream. Middle ear infections require treatment through tablets or injections. If a foreign object is suspected, surgery may be needed. Your vet will also recommend a full cleaning of the dog’s ear canal on a regular basis.

Prevention

Keeping the ear canal clean and dry is most important for preventing yeast infections in the ears. Regular cleanings will also allow you to check for discharge, odor, and swelling that may be missed, especially in floppy eared dogs. After swimming or baths, gently dry the ears to prevent infection.

Bayer ExpertCare

A few months ago, we were able to try the ear cleansing rinse from Bayer ExpertCare. It quickly became our new favorite and we use it on a regular basis to keep Mauja and Atka’s ears clean and infection free.

If your dog is not used to regular ear cleanings, it’s important to take it slow as to not damage the ear drum. In this post, we talk about the steps to successful ear cleanings with the Bayer ExpertCare Ear Cleansing Rinse.

We love the rinse so much that we wanted to offer a giveaway for you! Enter using the widget below for a chance to win the Bayer ExpertCare Ear Cleansing Rinse.

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about yeast infections in dogs, specifically their ears.

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Xtra Mud Not Necessary [GIVEAWAY!]

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about trying to keep the white fur, white!

Xtra Mud Not Necessary

Okay, so I know I cheated a bit in the title there. The letter ‘x’ is a difficult one! Especially since I already knew what I wanted to talk about today.

Mauja and Atka (well, mostly Atka) love mud, sand, dirt, and anything messy. It’s been raining for three days straight here and my beautiful white dogs are now a lovely shade of brown. As soon as their fur dries and the dirt flakes off, they go back outside and start the process all over again.

I’m not really sure how I’m going to handle our upcoming move to the Seattle area. I’m always thankful for their self-cleaning coats, but I think Mauja and Atka need rain gear – STAT! They’re going to hate me, but I have to try and keep things somewhat clean 😉

However, I do have one tool that helps keep the mud to a minimum – PL360 Grooming Wipes.

I keep these wipes everywhere. They’re in my car, my husband’s car, and like three places around our house so they’re always easily accessible. While these aren’t going to clean up a fluffy that decided a mud puddle looked like a great place to play, they’re great for touch-ups as needed – like when Atka rubs his face into the grass.

We’ve tried a lot of grooming wipes over the years and these are definitely my favorite so far. They do a great job cleaning up the pups, but they also only contain natural ingredients. As someone who tries to limit the amount of chemicals in the home, these are perfect for us.

I wrote a lengthy post on the benefits of using plant-based ingredients and why PL360 is my brand of choice for these products, particularly the grooming wipes, here.

PL360 Grooming Wipes are made without:

  • Parabens
  • Sulfates
  • Phthalates
  • Toxins
  • Lanolin
  • Soap
  • Alcohol

The wipes also have a lovely mandarin scent to them to refresh any mud/grass smell the fluffies have going on. I love the scent, but Mauja disagrees. She promptly rubs her head into the ground after I use the wipes on her.

What a diva 😉

Do you have a dog who likes to get dirty and want to try PL360’s Grooming Wipes yourself? Enter the giveaway using the widget below!

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about trying to keep the white fur, white!

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Wobbler Syndrome in Dogs

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about Wobbler Syndrome in dogs.

Wobbler Syndrome in Dogs

In continuation with our A to Z Challenge theme of giant breed health issues and needs, we’re talking about Wobbler Syndrome. This is an issue I see far too frequently in giant breeds, specifically Great Danes.

More formally known as cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM), Wobbler Syndrome is a disease of the cervical spine that is commonly seen in large and giant breed dogs. Taking place at the neck, the disease is characterized by the compression of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. This compression leads to poor neurological signs and neck pain.

Wobbler Syndrome can affect dogs in several different ways and some breeds are more disposed to a certain cause. Doberman Pinschers are more likely to suffer from slipping intervertebral disks while giant breeds under three years of age are likely to experience vertebral malformation. This malformation can compress the spinal cord from the top and bottom, top and sides, or simply from the sides. Regardless of the type of compression, dynamic spinal cord compression (compression changes with different cervical spine positions) is always present.

Symptoms

  • Wobbly gait (hence the name “Wobbler Syndrome”)
  • Neck pain and/or stiffness
  • Overall weakness, specifically in the front limbs
  • Partial or complete paralysis
  • Muscle loss
  • Worn toenails from uneven walking
  • Difficulty in standing

Causes

Particularly in giant breeds, fast-growth is a suspected cause of Wobbler Syndrome. This can occur due to excess calories and an inadequate calcium to phosphorus ratio in their food as they grow. Giant breed puppies should always be on a calorie-controlled diet with appropriate vitamins and minerals to foster slow, steady growth.

Diagnosis

A blood chemical profile, complete blood count, urinalysis, and electrolyte panel will be conducted to rule our any other diseases and a thorough medical history will be conducted by your veterinarian.

In order to diagnose Wobble Syndrome, visualization, X-rays, myelographs, CT scans, and MRIs will allow your vet to get a good view of the spine and vertebrae. These tests will help to rule out any other diagnoses such as neoplasia and inflammatory spinal cord diseases.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the severity and location of the spinal compression. Severe cases will be treated with surgery which will require at least two to three months of restricted activity to allow the bone to heal. Post-operative dogs will require physical therapy to avoid muscle loss and bone fusion and to encourage a speedy recovery. While surgery has an 80% chance of improvement, there is a small risk of significant complications which are associated with any cervical surgical procedure.

For dogs that do not go through surgery, soft bedding is essential to keep them comfortable and help prevent bed sores. Some will require bladder catheterization so the dog does not have to rise to do his business outside. It will be important to keep your dog as comfortable as possible.

To prevent further injury, dogs wearing neck collars should be switched to body harnesses. Neck collars have the potential to harm the already compromised spinal structure. Your vet may also recommend a diet change to cut down on excess protein, calcium, and calories.

Have you ever had a dog with Wobbler Syndrome? How was the treatment process for your dog?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about Wobbler Syndrome in dogs.

Shedding – 8 Ways to Manage the Madness [GIVEAWAY!]

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about how to manage the mass amount of fur!

Shedding – 8 Ways to Manage the Madness

Fur, fur, everywhere. If you have a dog, shedding is a given. If you have a long-haired, double-coated dog, shedding is a part of life. It’s on your clothes, in your food, and you even find it in your office. If you don’t find a way to handle it and laugh about it, you’ll quickly go mad. Here are our top 8 tips for not drowning in a sea of fluff.

Brush Your Dog

This one is a given, but don’t underestimate the power of brushing! I can definitely notice when I go too long between brushing sessions for Mauja and Atka. Not only does their fur feel clumpy, but the corners of my rooms collect fur bunnies much more quickly. If your dog has fur like a Great Pyrenees, I recommend brushing at least 2-3 times per week.

Feed a High-Quality Food

A healthy coat is less likely to shed all over the place. Make sure your dog’s diet consists of high-quality protein and is free from corn, wheat, soy, by-products, and anything artificial.

Essential Fatty Acids

Most high-quality foods have essential fatty acids included in the formula, but we always supplement with extra. In my opinion, the amount added to the food isn’t enough to control the dry skin issues we have and to help nourish a healthy coat. One of our favorites is the Salmon Oil from Only Natural Pet.

Control Itching

Have you ever watched your dog scratching away while the cloud of fur surrounds his body? Definitely reminiscent of Pig-Pen! Once you determine the cause of the itching, you’ll be able to devise a solution to minimize or eliminate it.

Become Best Friends With Your Vacuum

Mauja and Atka spend a lot of time in the living room so I vacuum that every single day. Our carpet is beige so the fur blends in a bit, but after a day or two, you can definitely notice fur clumps forming. Also, you might as well invest in a quality vacuum. I resisted it for a long time (who wants to spend that much on a vacuum?), but after killing three in less than a year, we finally took the plunge. I wish we would have done it sooner!

Use a Forced Air Dryer

If you’ve never tried one, you’re seriously missing out. I always wondered how the groomer was able to get so much dead fluff out, so I finally asked her. The secret was the use of a forced air dryer. While Mauja and Atka only get professionally groomed a few times a year, there is a DIY grooming place less than 10 minutes from us. For $15, we can use all of their equipment, which includes my favorite part, the forced air dryer. Nick’s favorite part is the fact that we don’t have to clean up the mess 😉

Invest in a Quality Brush

Our personal favorite is the Oster Grooming Rake – it does an amazing job of getting out the dead undercoat. The most important thing when looking for a quality brush is to ensure that it gets out the undercoat. So many “undercoat rakes” only brush the surface, so they never get through the outer coat.

Try a Supplement

A few months ago, we were given the opportunity to try Shed No More® from PL360. Shed No More is formulated with vitamins, minerals, and essential oils to support a healthy skin and coat. It comes in flavored, chewable tablets which made it super easy to give to the pups.

The directions state that it takes approximately 4-6 weeks to begin seeing results in your dog. After about 3 weeks, I definitely noticed an extra shine to Mauja and Atka’s coats. While I can’t say definitively that they were shedding less (although I do feel like I was vacuuming less), their coats looked much healthier than they had previously.

Want to try Shed No More for your dog? Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win!

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about how to manage the mass amount of fur!

Quick Avoidance

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about avoiding your dog's quick.

Quick Avoidance

Have you ever accidentally nicked your dog’s quick?

I have and I felt like the absolute worst dog mom in the entire world.

I was trimming Mauja’s nails, which she never had a problem with. Just as I went to cut, she heard something and jerked her leg. Even though the nail clippers had a “safety stopper”, it was just enough for me to cut the quick.

She yipped, I squealed, and my carpet turned red.

I freaked out.

I had never done that before. Even with Kaeto’s combination of white and black nails (which are the WORST to cut), I had managed to avoid it. Poor Mauja.

Since it was the first time I had ever done that, I really wasn’t sure what to do. I grabbed some paper towels to add pressure to the exposed nail and grabbed my phone for a quick Google search. What did we ever do without the internet?

After some quick research (see what I did there?), I found 5 ways to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, I had a few of the required materials at home.

  1. Baking soda, flour, or cornstarch. The first time I cut Mauja’s quick, this is the method we resorted to. I didn’t have anything fancy to stop the bleeding, but I did have cornstarch in my pantry! Grab a small amount and press it onto your dog’s nail, holding it there as the wound clots. The nail will most likely be sensitive, so ensure you’re gentle as you wait for it to clot.
  2. Styptic powder. After Mauja’s incident, this was the first thing I purchased. Since it contains ferric subsulfate (which contracts blood vessels and stops bleeding), I figured it would be more beneficial than cornstarch. It also contains Benzocaine to alleviate pain from minor cuts. One of the most popular brands of styptic powder and the one that we purchased is called Kwik Stop. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it yet!
  3. Styptic pencil. This is a popular method for stopping the bleeding, but many contain silver nitrate which can really sting. Since Mauja is now hesitant about her paws being touched, I don’t plan on trying this one and causing any extra fear. However, it seems like it would be a great option for a travel/first aid kit due to the convenience.
  4. Soap. Well, a bar of soap. I came across this method before finding cornstarch, but much to my surprise, we don’t have any bars of soap! I’d imagine that most people do so this could be a good option if you don’t have any of the above materials. Simply drag the damp bar of soap across the nail and wait for the blood to clot.
  5. Gauze, bandage, and a sock. If you don’t have anything on this list, these tools can definitely work in a pinch. Mauja would not stop trying to lick her nail – every time I got it to clot, she’d lick and it’d start bleeding again. We finally resorted to putting some gauze and a bandage over her bleeding nail (which was one of her rear dewclaws), putting a sock over that foot, and then lightly taping the sock in place. She hated me, but it worked 😉

If none of the aforementioned methods work for your dog and bleeding persists for over 30-60 minutes, call your vet. They will be able to help alleviate the bleeding and make your dog more comfortable.

Most importantly, if you nick the quick make sure you suck up to your dog with some extra snuggles and a special treat. Both necessary for forgiveness 😉

Have you ever cut your dog’s nail too short? How did you stop the bleeding?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about avoiding your dog's quick.

Power Your Pyrenees with Complete Health #GrainFreeForMe

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Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!

Power Your Pyrenees with Complete Health

It’s no secret that we love Wellness Pet Food. The fluffies have tried so many of their products over the years. They’ve had (and loved) several flavors from the TruFood and Core lines – both grain-free options. However, there was one line they haven’t had in quite some time – the Wellness® Complete Health™ line.

This post is sponsored by Wellness Natural Pet Food and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share the reinvented Complete Health Line and other Wellness Products, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Wellness Natural Pet Food is not responsible for the content of this article.

As puppies, Mauja and Atka were both on the Large Breed Puppy Complete Health formula. This is not a grain-free diet, but since grain-free diets are generally not recommended for giant breed puppies, this was perfect. The fluffies loved and thrived on this food.

However, as they got older I wanted to switch them to a grain-free diet. Even though we loved the Complete Health line, there weren’t any grain-free options for us. That’s when we switched to Wellness Core and eventually tried TruFood.

Recently, something I never thought would happen finally did – Wellness Complete Health finally went grain-free! Obviously, we just had to try it.

Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!

Mauja and Atka really like fish-flavored foods, so we decided to go with the Complete Health Whitefish and Menhaden Fish Meal Recipe. This recipe features a balanced blend of proteins, grain-free carbohydrates, and select fats to help your furry one thrive. In fact, Wellness guarantees the 5 Signs of Wellness.

  • Skin & Coat Health – By including healthy levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids from quality sources such as salmon and flaxseed, your dog’s coat will be 100% snuggable. Omega-3s and Omega-6s are also essential for healthy, flake-free skin.
  • Digestive Health – Upset tummies are no fun – for you or your dog! Wellness Complete Health provides probiotics, prebiotics, chicory root extract, and fiber to improve digestion and keep tummies happy.
  • Eyes, Teeth, & Gums – Excessive tearing and inflammation are sure to cause discomfort and leave you with one unhappy puppy. High-quality food such as Complete Health, will prevent excessive tearing and keep your dog’s teeth and gums inflammation free.
  • Energy – We all love being active with our pets, but we have to ensure they are getting the quality nutrition required to optimize their energy levels. By providing a balanced blend of high-quality protein, grain-free carbohydrates, and select fats, you’ll both be ready for your favorite activities.
  • Immunity – We all know that a strong immune system is important for optimal health. Wellness Complete Health recipes are fortified with zinc, selenium, and vitamin E to maintain optimum health and resist disease.

As I was preparing for this post, I wanted to get some pictures of Mauja and Atka enjoying their food. I filled the bowl to the brim to make it easier to get a good picture and let them do their part as taste-testers.

Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!
Notice the slobber around the bowl? 😉

It was actually pretty adorable – they both took turns grabbing a bite from the bowl. Mauja would step up, grab a bite, take a step back to chew, and then Atka would go through the same process. They continued to do this over and over (why am I never filming when I should be?!) until the bowl was completely empty.

Little piglets.

They then had the nerve to look at me like, “Okay, mom. Are you going to refill this thing or what?”

I think it’s safe to say that Wellness Complete Health will be added to their rotation diet!

P.S. You can follow Wellness Pet Food on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Does your dog show the 5 Signs of Wellness? Swing by your local PetSmart (or easily shop online) so your dog can try the new grain-free line of Wellness Complete Health!

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Does your dog show the 5 signs of wellness? Read why we're loving Wellness Complete Health to keep our Great Pyrenees happy and healthy!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wellness. The opinions and text are all mine.

Osteosarcoma in Dogs

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about something all giant breed parents worry about: osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma in Dogs

Osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, refers to the most common bone tumor in dogs. While it can affect any dog, it is most commonly found in large/giant breeds. Osteosarcoma is one of the greatest fears for many giant breed owners as it strikes far too frequently. It’s definitely something I worry about all too often.

Generally occurring in middle-aged to older dogs (median age is 7 years), osteosarcoma is responsible for up to 85% of all skeletal malignancies.

Osteosarcoma does have options for treatment, however, it is an extremely aggressive form of cancer. It tends to spread very rapidly leading to a poor prognosis.

Symptoms

While some dogs will show a growth on their body, most signs of osteosarcoma are subtle. These include:

  • Swelling
  • Lameness
  • Joint/bone pain
  • Tiredness
  • Lack of appetite

Diagnosis

Diagnosing osteosarcoma involves x-rays in order for your veterinarian to view the massive. Aside from x-rays, your vet will conduct biopsies, blood tests, bone scans, and CAT scans to view the bone and mass areas.

Treatment

Surgical options are often necessary to remove any masses, or in severe cases, the limb entirely. In addition to surgery, chemotherapy is used to ensure cancer has not spread into other areas of the body, specifically, the lymph nodes.

Management

As with any surgery, activity will be restricted and a program for pain management will be put into place. Pain management will also include medications to reduce the inflammation and keep the dog as comfortable as possible. Your vet will most likely want to continuously monitor your dog’s white and red blood cell counts and chest x-rays to determine remission.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there are currently no known prevention methods for bone cancer. However, if you choose to purchase through a breeder, it’s important to understand the health and genetics of the parents. Also, providing breed-appropriate nutrition and exercise will help keep your dog healthy.

While this is a very brief overview of osteosarcoma, I plan to do a more in-depth post in the near future. For more information or to donate to cancer research in dogs, you can visit the National Canine Cancer Foundation. Here you will find ample amounts of information on the topic of canine cancer.

Have you ever had a dog suffer from osteosarcoma? What advice do you have for other worried pet parents?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about something all giant breed parents worry about: osteosarcoma.

Nutrition Variation with a Rotation Diet

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about feeding your giant breed dog a rotation diet.

Nutrition Variation with a Rotation Diet

I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I feed Mauja and Atka a rotation diet. Recently, I’ve had a lot of questions regarding this feeding technique, so I wanted to touch on the subject.

What is a rotation diet?

A rotation diet is exactly what it sounds like – you rotate your dog’s food on a regular interval. I think it’s safe to assume that there is no “perfect” dog food. There are many premium-quality foods, but all can be deemed deficient or excessive in some way.

Rather than endlessly searching for the perfect food for your dog, a rotation diet allows you to create a near perfect eating plan. By switching foods on a routine basis, you minimize the unhealthy consequences of feeding a food that is deficient in or contains too much of a nutrient.

Isn’t frequently switching foods dangerous?

Generally speaking, no, but it really depends on the dog. While some dogs cannot tolerate a change in food, there is a lack of scientific research on the topic. Currently, there are no studies to show that a rotation diet is detrimental to the dog.

Mauja and Atka struggled with food rotation when we first started, which made sense since they had been on the same food for over a year. For the first few rotations, we had to carefully and slowly transition their food over a period of 7 to 10 days. Now, their tummies almost crave the transition. We are able to switch foods in two or three days without any issues. I know many dogs that can switch food each day and thrive.

Benefits of a rotation diet

Complete approach to nutrition. While high-quality foods are meant to be complete and balanced, each individual ingredient has a unique nutritional profile. Depending on the ingredients in the food, it’s going to vary in amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. When you rotate foods, it allows your dog to benefit from the varied nutrient profiles.

Increased excitement.  While many don’t have this problem, we certainly do. It can be very difficult to get Mauja and Atka excited for mealtime. I can always tell when we’re nearing the end of the bag because they become visibly less excited for meals. By rotating their foods, it helps to keep them excited so they actually eat the amount of food they need.

Reduced risk of food allergies/intolerances. Some dogs will actually develop an allergy or intolerance to a food if they are fed it too frequently. This is especially true for common ingredients such as chicken, beef, wheat, corn, or soy (although I do not recommend feeding wheat, corn, or soy to any dog). By varying the formulas your dog eats, you reduce the risk of developing an allergy or intolerance.

How often should food be rotated?

Simply put, it depends on the dog. There isn’t any research suggesting that one fixed interval is better than another. For us, it works best to get through a bag before transitioning to the next kind. However, some dogs prefer their food to be switched on a weekly, or even daily, basis.

In my opinion, the length of time on a specific food should be dependent on your dog’s gastrointestinal system. Dogs with sensitive tummies will probably do better switching after an empty bag, rather than on a daily basis. If your dog does have a sensitive stomach, ensure you allow adequate time for transition. It may be necessary to still take 7-10 to transition your dog’s food.

While we have had great success with rotational feeding, it isn’t for every dog. I highly recommend that you experiment with this feeding method and decide if you think it’s right for you and your dog.

Is your dog fed a rotation diet? Have you found it beneficial?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about feeding your giant breed dog a rotation diet.

Lumps and Bumps

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about one of our worst fears - finding lumps and bumps on our dogs.

Lumps and Bumps

Finding a lump on your dog can be terrifying, but it isn’t always cause for alarm.

When Mauja was only a year old, we found a small lump on her chest. My mind immediately went to the “c word”. After a mild panic attack and a visit to the vet, we found out it was nothing to worry about. Thankfully, the vet determined it was simply a lipoma.

What is a Lipoma?

A lipoma is one of the most commonly found lumps on a dog’s body. These masses are usually soft, rounded, and not painful for your dog. They typically appear just under the skin and are generally benign.

Most of the time, lipomas do not have to be removed. This has been the case for Mauja – her bump has stayed the same size and not caused her any problems, so we haven’t had it removed. Occasionally, lipomas can grow into very large fat deposits that are uncomfortable for the dog and must be removed.

Other Non-cancerous Lumps and Bumps

Sebaceous Cysts

Sebaceous cysts typically arise due to clogged oil glands in the skin. These cysts are composed of dead cells and can contain a clear fluid. Oftentimes, these rupture without medical intervention and heal on their own. If the cyst becomes irritated or infected, your vet will help to determine the best course of action.

Sebaceous Adenomas

While sebaceous adenomas are not the most common type of lump found on dogs, they are the most commonly biopsied. Like the cysts, these growths are rarely problematic once surgically removed.

Warts, infected hair follicles, and blood blisters are other common, non-cancerous bumps. These bumps often cause discomfort to your dog, but they have less of a health impact than cancerous growths.

Cancerous Lumps

These lumps can be malignant or benign and include mammary gland tumors, mast cell tumors, cutaneous lymphosarcoma, malignant melanoma, fibrosarcoma, and many other types of tumors.

Diagnosing Cancerous Lumps

There are four main methods for determining the type of lump that has been found on your dog.

  • Impression Smears – Some masses are easier to collect cells than others. If the mass can be examined through an impression smear, your vet will collect cells by pressing a microscope slide to the raw surface of the mass. Sometimes, your vet will be able to diagnose the smear immediately, but most likely the sample will be sent to a pathologist for diagnosis.
  • Needle Biopsy – In some cases, the lump can be analyzed through a simple needle biopsy rather than by complete removal. Your vet will insert a sterile needle into the lump and vacuum out cells for examination. As yucky as this procedure sounds, it is usually a painless one.
  • CT Scans – If analysis of internal organs is needed, a CT Scan will be performed to help determine if the lump has gone deeper into the body.
  • Radiography – Similarly to CT Scans, radiography will be used to determine the state of internal masses.

Treatment

Treatment will vary based on the age/health of the dog and the severity of the tumor.

  • Surgery – Surgery will be completed in order to remove a lump that causes pain or discomfort or one that has been deemed dangerous.
  • Chemotherapy – Typically, chemotherapy is done in conjunction with surgery to ensure the mass has been totally removed. It allows the vet to stay ahead of the tumor to hopefully achieve a  cure.
  • Radiation – If the tumor does not have well-defined borders or is spreading rapidly, radiation will be done to help save your pet’s life. As with chemotherapy, surgery typically accompanies radiation.

Most importantly, each lump must be treated individually to ensure the best course of action for your dog.

In cases where vigilance for tumors is part of the animal’s care, such as in animals where a malignant tumor has been removed and the veterinarian wishes to keep abreast of the stage of disease, then every lump should be submitted for histopathology. In other cases where the clinician is sure of a benign diagnosis such as lipoma or a wart-like skin mass then it might be understandable to use discretion. The clinician also has to take into consideration the risk of surgery compared to the risk of health problems from a particular lump or bump. – Dr. Dubielzig in PetMD

Have you ever dealt with lumps and bumps on your dog? What was your course of action?

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When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about one of our worst fears - finding lumps and bumps on our dogs.