Atheromas in dogs (sebaceous cysts)

If you discover a lump or bump under your beloved four-legged friend's skin, your heart often stops beating. Often, the question immediately arises: Could this be a tumor? In most cases, these skin enlargements are quite harmless. These are often so-called atheroma, or sebaceous cysts. Learn everything about their origin, diagnosis, and treatment below.

What are atheromas in dogs and how do they develop?

Atheromas, also known as sebaceous cysts, or sebaceous nodules, are benign cysts of the sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands are distributed throughout the skin. They produce sebum, which spreads over the skin as a natural protection against dirt and pathogens.

A distinction is made between:

“ True” atheroma

“ False” atheroma

" True" atheromas lack an excretory duct. They develop when epithelial tissue breaks away and gradually accumulates in a capsule along with sebum.

Sometimes a dog's sebaceous gland becomes blocked, for example, by dried sebum or dead skin cells. When this happens, the sebum produced by the sebaceous gland can no longer be distributed over the skin. Instead, the sebum begins to accumulate at the gland's opening, enclosed in a capsule. In this case, it is a "false" atheroma. They have an excretory duct.

How do you recognize an atheroma in a dog?

Atheromas in the skin aren't always easy to detect. They vary greatly in size, some barely larger than a lentil, while others can reach the size of a chicken egg. They can also appear almost anywhere on the body.

Important: It's always a good idea to report any increase in size to your veterinarian and seek detailed advice. The veterinarian can often determine the nature of the problem more accurately through sampling and their experience.

Nevertheless, there are also indications for the owner that the lump discovered in the dog's skin is a sebaceous cyst:

Sebaceous cysts feel plump and elastic

They occur particularly often in very hairy areas, for example on the neck or back.

Typically, the fur over the atheroma remains unchanged. The skin change is often noticeable when petting the cat.

Atheromas are well and clearly demarcated from the rest of the tissue.

Atheromas are usually not painful, except when inflamed.

They can be easily moved within the skin against the subcutaneous tissue. The dog has a movable lump under the skin.

The skin change on the neck is often noticeable when stroking.

Lump discovered on the neck: When to see a vet

No matter how harmless and small a lump in the skin may appear, it should always be examined by a veterinarian. Even small lumps can turn out to be tumors , whereas large lumps can have completely harmless causes.

The veterinary examination usually includes a puncture of the lump and a cytological examination. This examination can determine with great certainty what type of enlargement it is and what can best be done to treat it.

Important: It could also be a lipoma , for example .

When should atheromas be treated?

Sebaceous cysts in dogs are generally not an emergency. Since they are usually painless and usually not located in a bothersome area, they are often not treated. However, if the cyst is in an unfavorable location and bothers the dog, or if it is very large, you should consider having it removed.

In addition, the dead skin cells, along with the sebum, provide an ideal environment for bacteria, which can easily penetrate the skin. They prefer to colonize the sebaceous cysts and often trigger severe, extremely painful, purulent infections that can severely limit the dog's quality of life. Even in such cases, the atheroma must be treated.

How do you treat atheromas in dogs?

With atheroma, simply squeezing it is usually not enough. Trying to squeeze a pimple on a dog is often difficult because the process is quite painful. Furthermore, attempting to squeeze can actually trigger an inflammatory process.

Even more important, however, is the fact that squeezing an atheroma usually doesn't make it disappear. The capsule surrounding the atheroma remains after squeezing and causes the accumulation of new sebum and dead skin cells, causing the atheroma to refill after a short time.

Therefore, if you want to completely remove an atheroma, it's not enough to simply squeeze it out or split it. Instead, the capsule of the atheroma must also be removed.

This is usually performed under general anesthesia, but at least with local anesthesia. Once the cyst has burst, proper veterinary care is also necessary. The veterinarian will clean the skin and remove any remaining cyst to prevent possible inflammation and recurrence.

Important to know: An inflamed atheroma usually requires treatment with appropriate antibiotics in addition to removal.

What is the prognosis for the removal of an atheroma?

If the atheroma has been completely removed, including its capsule, the prognosis is generally favorable. The more inflamed the atheroma is during the procedure, the worse the prognosis. Therefore, in some cases, such as a large or poorly located atheroma, it makes sense to remove it prophylactically before it becomes infected.

Please note: Proper aftercare is always important, with the veterinarian checking the wound every few days and cleaning it thoroughly. Often, instructions for proper wound cleaning are also provided for the owner to take home.

Is there any prophylaxis against sebaceous cysts?

There is no real prophylaxis against sebaceous cysts. Avoiding pressure points on the neck and back caused by ill-fitting harnesses may prevent the formation of sebaceous cysts. Regular brushing also promotes the distribution of sebum over the skin and stimulates the function of the sebaceous glands. This can prevent them from becoming clogged.

A poorly fitting collar can lead to pressure sores.

Conclusion

Atheromas, or sebaceous cysts in dogs, are harmless skin enlargements that are usually easy to treat. However, you should consult a veterinarian about any lump under your dog's skin, no matter how inconspicuous, to rule out the possibility of a malignant tumor.

C. Kaul