Not sure if this is normal or horrible??

[HankGSD]

Do dogs have moles??

I just discovered what seems like a mole in the middle of Hank's chest almost directly between his front legs. It is about the size of a dime, flat, symmetrical and a perfect shade of pink. I poked, prodded and pinched it and he didn't react at all. (And no, it is not his nipple )

I do want to get him to the vet to have it checked out, but I won't be able to go today and I will be sick with worry all day.

[HankGSD]

I should add he just finished a 14-day cycle of Keflex about a week ago for a skin rash on his flank. I started him on Nutiva coconut oil about a month ago. And it is smaller than a dime, maybe more like a centimeter.

[GusGus]

No idea. I've seen "moles" on several dogs but they've always been covered in fur. I've never actually seen the color of one.

[Freestep]

I see them all the time on older dogs. Not usually anything to get excited about, unless it breaks open and bleeds--some will if they get large. Dime-size is pretty large. Just be careful when you're brushing him in that area.

[HankGSD]

I think I overstated the size by saying "dime size." It is more like a centimeter or so across. Fortunately I have a former vet tech at work who said it doesn't sound like anything serious, and to keep an eye on it. I would still love to hear any and all comments/replies from all you GSD experts out there!

[jang]

I , also, just found a pea size bump on Sib...It is the same color as her skin...but I think I am just going to watch it for awhile and make sure it doesn't get any bigger...

[Karma6577]

If you can take pictures and watch for any growth. In a month compare and see if any growth happens and just watch it from now on. I do believe that little moles are normal I have found two on my papillon an he is 6.


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[HankGSD]

Originally Posted by Karma6577

If you can take pictures and watch for any growth. In a month compare and see if any growth happens and just watch it from now on. I do believe that little moles are normal I have found two on my papillon an he is 6.

Great idea!

Hank is just over 2, and the former vet tech also pointed out that it might have always been there and I only just noticed it.

It's perfectly round and smooth, and almost looks like a blood blister the more I think about it.

I am not panicking anymore but still have been uneasy all day at work. Thanks for your replies.

[HankGSD]

Well, not terribly good news from the vet. She says it looks like a histiocytoma, which is a benign growth, but some of the cells she removed with a syringe looked suspicious, so she is sending it out to a pathologist for a definitive reading.

I probably won't know anything until Thursday. It's going to be a tough couple days.

Worst case scenario in her opinion is surgical removal of the mass, that she did not feel it under the skin at all, and she said her "gut feeling" is that it is just a hystiocytoma. But I do appreciate that she is making sure.

[mego]

Good for you for noticing it early though, hopefully it's nothing too serious and Hank ends up well