Since Havana, our 2 year old chocolate Labrador retriever, was 6 months old we have been in and out of veterinary offices treating her severe skin allergies. Her belly area will break out in rashes, her skin becomes very dry and flakes, she licks her paws nonstop, and chews her skin raw.
From an early age, she has been treated with Prednisone, Simplicef, Ketoconazole, Cephalexin, and much more. As our vet has reminded us time and time again that these medicines are not recommended for long term use, Havana's dad and I tried to figure out alternative measures.
As a result, we went to a veterinary specialist - a dermatology clinic specializing in dog allergies & skin disorders. No surprise that Havana tested positive to allergens such as grass, mold, certain trees, mosquitoes, and much more. Unfortunately, living in the Southeast, you can't really avoid any of environmental conditions which causes her to experience recurring skin problems.
About a week ago, we noticed that a huge red bump (about the size of a dime) appeared on her belly. It was fairly hard to the touch, perfectly round, and appeared overnight. The picture of the histiocytoma is not Havana, but very similar. I know the picture is gross, but hopefully this helps someone else identify the growth on their dog. We figured with her history of skin allergies it would probably go away. Well, a week later the red bump was still present, so off to the dermatologist we went.
After a few tests, we found out it was a histiocytoma growth. The vet assured us it was not cancerous and nothing to be alarmed about. Apparently a histiocytoma growth is fairly common in Labrador retrievers, other dog breeds, and puppies less than 3 years old. While it is a tumor, it is benign and will disappear within 3 months by itself. Should it not go away within that time, it can be removed.
We are very relieved that the big red bump is not cancerous, to say the least. However, if your pet experiences a growth similar in size and shape visit your vet immediately to make sure it is not malignant.
These are additional resources on Histiocytoma which I found useful:
Info from VetMedcenter.com courtesy of BobMcKee.com
About.com Veterinary Medicine
Mar Vista Animal Medical Center
Histiocytoma | Red Bump | Labrador | Retreiver
Veterinary | Skin Allergies | Rash | Tumor
Benign | Dog | Puppy
Pet Friendly | Cody | Havana | Doghouse Properties
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sedonabreathe commented on 8:34 PM, July 16, 2008
Post a CommentMy dog has numerous skin issues and I have tried many types of medicines etc... After many years, I have discovered that a few drops of Tea Tree Oil mixed with Olive Oil massaged into her skin made a huge difference! I had placed it on her back between her neck and tail where the skin was the worst. I do it about once a month to maintain healthy skin. I also switched her to Drs. Foster and Smith Dog Food, that help alot too. Look up info. online about Tea Tree Oil and skin issues, you should find some good help. Note that it is NOT to ever be used on cats, but in small amounts okay on dogs.
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