Skin Masses

Priced from $1,000 - $1,800

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What are skin masses in dogs?

This is the name given to any growth that occurs underneath the skin. Masses can be small and benign (like a sebaceous gland adenoma, which is a tumour in the hair follicle gland, or a histiocytoma, which is commonly seen in young dogs) or they can be extensive (like soft tissue sarcomas, STS, or mast cell tumours, MCT).

How is it treated?

Some skin masses (like a sebaceous gland adenoma) can be monitored rather than treated. Dog skin tumours (like STS), on the other hand, will need to be removed if possible, as they can grow and spread. Early treatment can help to ensure your pet’s lifetime is not affected. The longer they’re left, the more difficult and costly masses can be to remove – not to mention the greater the chances they’ve spread elsewhere.

If removal is required, surgery is the preferred choice. We endeavour to remove 1cm or more of healthy tissue beside and beneath the skin mass as well as the tumour itself. We send the mass to histopathology where they check that it has been completely removed and determine what sort of tumour it was. This information can help to shape future decisions, such as whether there’s a need for chemotherapy or not.

Procedure cost

These sorts of procedures can cost as little as $1,000 for a simple removal or up to $1,800 for an extensive removal at Melbourne Pet Surgery.

Optional pre-anaesthetic blood test available for all surgeries (additional cost)

Recovery and aftercare

Cleo, 10 Years old

Beagle, 10 Years old

Your pet can generally return home the same day as their surgery. Aftercare usually only involves keeping them quiet for a few days and preventing them from licking at the surgery area.