Granulomas result as an immune body reaction to an irritation, infection, or disease condition. They could occur anywhere in the body and can spread to other parts.
This condition could vary from benign to malignant and does not necessarily indicate a cancerous condition. In this article, we will learn what granulomas look like on dogs, their causes, and available treatment.
Stop Googling - Ask a Real Vet
Content:
- What Does a Granuloma Look Like on a Dog
- What Causes Granuloma in Dogs
- Granuloma Dog Treatment
- Conclusion
What Does a Granuloma Look Like on a Dog
How a granuloma appears on dogs depends on its causative factors. For better understanding, we will classify granulomas into different types and causes and their accompanying symptoms. Below are some of the types of granulomas found in dogs and how they appear:
Acral Lick Granuloma
Dogs could develop acral lick granuloma (also known as lick granuloma or granulomatous dermatitis) when they constantly lick a part of their body, especially the lower limb extremities. This area becomes ulcerative, inflamed with loss of hair. With the help of the Petcube Camera around the house, you can watch out for chronic licking habits in dogs and help prevent this.
“Lick granulomas could be tough; controlling your dog’s anxiety would help reduce its persistence”, - Reddit User
Granulomatous Dermatoses
These are skin bumps that appear as small raised nodular lesions on the skin. They can appear singularly or clustered on any part of the skin. It has been observed that German shepherds and the Bernese mountain dogs are highly susceptible to this condition.
Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex
This is a rare granuloma condition in dogs that appears as nodules or bumps mostly on the mouth and lips but could appear on other parts of the body. These bumps could end up becoming crusted and really itchy. It is not breed specific and could affect just about any breed of dog.
What Causes Granuloma in Dogs
Granulomas in dogs could be caused by both external and internal factors. In general, a granuloma is an immune body reaction to stimuli that are seen as unfavorable to the body. By reacting, the body builds up these masses or nodular inflammation known as granulomas.
Different factors can lead to several types of granuloma which may have similar symptoms. As a dog parent, preventing your dog from having a granuloma could be possible if you take note of the following causative factors:
- Insect bite/sting
- Food allergy
- Chronic licking
- Foreign object
- Chronic skin disorder
- Infection, e.g., tuberculosis
- Hypersensitivity
- Disease conditions
- Tumour
- Idiopathic factors
Some studies claim that granulomas associated with the liver may be due to old age, ischaemia and shortage of nutrient supply to the organ. This has resulted in a typical case of lipogranulomas in the livers of dogs.
Granuloma Dog Treatment
Granulomas occur in different forms and would need a definitive diagnosis and identification of their aetiology before treating. Carrying out some blood tests, skin scraping, and radiographs would help guide the right treatment regimen to use.
Treating granuloma at the vet would attract a lot of bills, especially those associated with an underlying disease condition. But not to worry; the Petcube Emergency Fund is a lifesaver! A package that offsets up to $3000 in vet fees and offers a 27% discount if you subscribe now using the exclusive link.
Lick granuloma could be difficult to resolve because of chronic licking at the site by the dog. To control this, get a cone and put it on the dog to prevent it from reaching the site of the granuloma. Granulomas on the skin, especially those caused by constant licking, would need time to heal.
“Food allergy or environmental sensitivity is most likely the cause of lick granulomas”, - Dr. Barri J. Morrison
Granuloma caused by infections or a disease condition would need a different approach, which may involve steroids and antibiotics. According to research, corticosteroids have remained the first line of therapy used in treating granulomas. This therapy prevents the body from producing more granulomas, while indirectly tackling the underlying infection.
From my experience, the prognosis of granulomas varies depending on their type. Usually, kick granulomas have a fair prognosis and would not result in any life-threatening conditions.
Conclusion
Granuloma is not such an uncommon condition in dogs, as it has been reported in several cases. Knowing what could lead to this is the first step to preventing granulomas. Dogs that are prone to licking should be trained to prevent such chronic habits from leading to granuloma. Symptoms like nodular formation on the skin of dogs should be reported promptly to the vet for the right treatment approach.
Was this article helpful?
Help us make our articles even better
