Lumps and Bumps in Dogs and Cats
So the dog pictured above..( Pippy), has a lump on her foreleg
If your dog or cat ever has something similar, there are a NUMBER of questions to ask, things to consider, and then an ARRAY of Natural Remedies to consider..
On Wednesday's Livestream, we will be going over what's NEW in Holistic Remedies for Lumps in Dogs and Cats..
Here are some things to consider..
SIGNS
Most lumps are easy to feel. They may show up on the chest or along the back. Most lumps on dogs are benign, while lumps that appear on cats are often cancerous. Often while petting your pet a cyst becomes noticeable.
CAUSES
As your pet ages, its immune system becomes less effective and lumps and bumps become more prevalent. Common dog lumps are lipomas (benign fatty tumors) and sebaceous cysts (a skin gland that blocks up).
SOLUTIONS
EXAMINE IT. Assess the severity of the lump. Lumps that are regularly shaped are less likely to be serious. Lumps that move easy under the skin are usually benign, such as fatty tumors (lipomas). Lumps that grow slowly are likely benign. Lumps that discharge a cheesy material are usually sebaceous cysts and can be left alone.
ASPIRATE. A simple thing to do to determine if a mass is serious is to visit your veterinarian and have him or her perform a needle aspirate and cytology of the lump. A microscopic slide can often tell if it is serious or not.
KEEP THEM CLEAN. A ruptured cyst needs to be kept clean so it will heal and not become infected. Wash it twice daily with an antiseptic solution (such as Hibitane or Iodine). Trim the hair around the cyst to aid in cleaning.
COMPRESS AWAY. A cyst that is enlarged but won’t rupture can be decreased in size by applying a warm cloth directly to the area daily.
STIMULATE THE SKIN’S IMMUNE SYSTEM. Vitamin E and essential fatty acids are great for boosting your pet’s skin immune function: give 100 IU per 10 lbs of body weight daily of Vitamin E. For dogs use ground flax as the essential fatty acid source, giving 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food, or 1000 mg of flax oil per 10 lbs of body weight. For cats use flax or fish oil, giving 250 mg daily.
MUSHROOMS. Certain mushrooms have immune stimulating activity. Some of these include, Reishi, Maitake, and Shiitake. The dose is 25 mg per 10 lbs daily.
ACV FOR WARTS. Apple cider vinegar acts as a peeling agent and removes dead skin cells and the virus found directly in the skin pores. With regular application of ACV, the warts become hard and appear black in color, and eventually should detach from the skin. Before using apple cider vinegar, first wash the affected area with a mild soap (must be clean and free from oil). Wet a cotton ball completely with ACV and put it on the affected area. Use a wrap of some kind to hold the cotton ball in place - ideally you want this on overnight. You can also just apply ACV with a swab and cover that (to prevent your pet from licking it off). If you are persistent with applying ACV, you should see a difference within a week.
HERBAL:
TOPICAL HERBS. Aloe and Calendula are two herbs available in a cream that will take away some of the inflammation from a ruptured cyst.
ECHINACEA. This is an effective herb for stimulating the immune system. The dried herb dose is 100 mg per 10 lbs; the tincture dose is 1 drop per lb twice daily.
GREEN TEA (CAMELLIA). May stimulate the immune system and inhibit lump growth. Standardized green tea extract is dosed at 50 mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily.
ESSIAC TEA. This contains a combination of herbs which may inhibit lump growth and spreading.
GARLIC. It has antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties. It is best used in conjunction with other antioxidants. When given at high doses it can cause anemia in your pet, so it is best used under the supervision of your veterinarian. The dog dose is 1/4 clove per 10 lbs daily; the cat dose is 1/8 clove daily.
GINSENG. A popular immune stimulant, it also appears to decrease abnormal lump growth. The Ginseng dose is 30 mg per lb of the dried herb twice daily or 1 drop per lb twice daily of the tincture.
I'll be discussing what is NEWEST on Wednesday's livestream
