Dog with hygroma on head
My dog (10mo female neutered mixed breed) developed a bump on the top of her head approximately 2 1/2 weeks ago. The bump is located on the top of her occiptal bump. I took my dog to the vet for x-rays which revealed an area of soft tissue around the occipital scalp. There was no bone involvement. My vet told me the bump was most likely a seroma or hygroma caused by trauma to the area (in other words, my dog bumped her head). She gave me a course of Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory medication) for my dog and told me to “hotpack” the area and come back in two weeks. Two weeks later I returned to the vet. The dog’s bump was a little smaller, but still evident (I was not very successful with the hotpacking). I was and am worried about the possibility that it may be a tumour. I asked the vet if we could draw some fluid from the lump to be sent for testing. The vet did that. The test came back clear (in other words, no abnormal cells in the fluid). However, my vet said the only way to rule out the possibility of a tumour is to do a biopsy of the tissue. Since the vet drew fluid off my dog’s bump, it has got bigger. I am now really worried. My vet suggested we wait a month before we do surgery. I am having a hard time waiting, but neither do I want to subject my dog to surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary. In herself my dog is doing fine and is eating and playing normally.
Do you have any experience with the sort of lump I have described? Why do you think it is growing? Can my dog live with the lump? Do you think it could be a tumour? Do you have any other ideas? Thanks for letting me know.
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