How To Treat A Cyst On A Dog
Introduction
Cysts, while inconvenient and even painful, are not usually a cause for major concern. However, they do require prompt treatment to prevent reoccurrence. Luckily, there are several ways to handle cysts at home or with the help of a vet. To know how to treat a cyst on a dog, first determine what type of cyst it is and then consider the different treatment options available to you.
Determine what type of cyst your dog has and how it could be treated by a vet.
Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that usually develop on a dog’s skin or in the body and are generally harmless. There are two types of cysts, both of which may be caused by different things:
- Congenital – these occur at birth and can be linked to genetics.
- Acquired – these develop later in life due to injury or birth defects.
If you’re not sure what type of cyst your dog has, a veterinarian can help determine this based on its appearance, size and location. If your vet thinks it’s a congenital cyst (such as those linked to genetic predisposition), they may recommend treating it with medication or surgery as soon as possible before any complications arise such as inflammation of nearby organs or tissues.
Make sure that the cyst will not cause your dog any discomfort so you can leave it untreated.
Remember, if the cyst is causing your dog pain or irritation, contact a vet. Otherwise, it’s OK to treat it yourself with an OTC cream.
Treat non-cancerous sebaceous cysts with an OTC skin cream.
If you suspect your dog has a sebaceous cyst, take him or her to the vet. If your pet has a non-cancerous sebaceous cyst and is not in pain, you can treat the condition with an OTC skin cream that is designed to treat cysts. Do not use any of these creams if they are intended for other purposes:
- Skin conditions
- Skin infections
- Skin allergies
Close off sebaceous cysts that are cancerous with Mohs surgery.
Mohs surgery is a cosmetic procedure designed to remove skin cancers that have not spread. The surgeon removes a thin layer of tissue, then examines it for cancerous cells. If there are any cells left behind in the biopsy, the surgeon removes another thin layer of tissue and repeats this process until he finds no more cancerous cells. This method requires experienced doctors who can carefully manage your pet’s pain and stress levels while removing all traces of cancer from his body.
If you decide to go this route, your vet will have to refer you to one of several dermatologists who specialize in Mohs surgery for dogs. Your pet will need daily bandage changes every three days until there is no sign of infection or scabbing on his wound site; you may also need help with bathing during this time period while he heals from surgery!
Remove larger sebaceous cysts with surgical excision or Marsupialization surgery.
If the cyst is large or it doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, your dog’s veterinarian may recommend that it be surgically excised from the skin. In this procedure, the surgeon will remove the sebaceous cyst and some of the surrounding tissue.
The wound is then closed with stitches so that it can heal properly.
You can treat a cyst on a dog in a few different ways depending on what type of cyst it is and how serious the problem is.
You can treat a cyst on a dog in a few different ways depending on what type of cyst it is and how serious the problem is. If you believe that your dog’s cyst may be cancerous, then you will have to seek out the advice of your vet right away. They will likely recommend surgery to remove the cancerous tissue and give them instructions on how to care for their wound afterwards.
If you do not think that cancer is involved, then there are some OTC skin creams available at pet stores or online that are designed to help reduce inflammation and kill bacteria surrounding an infected area—making them ideal for treating dog skin problems like fungal infections and eczema rashes without having to visit the vet clinic every time something goes wrong with one of your pets’ bodies!
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a variety of treatment options for cysts on dogs. It is important to first diagnose the issue before selecting one that works best for your pet’s health needs. If you have any questions about this article or others related to dog care, please contact us at Bracht Veterinary Hospital.