Mass & Tumor Removal for Dogs & Cats in St. George, UT
Finding a new lump or bump on your dog or cat is unsettling — and it is one of the most common reasons pet owners come to see us. The good news is that many masses are benign. The important thing is never to guess. At Agave Animal Hospital in St. George, our veterinarians, Dr. Madison Tripp and Dr. Nicole Sorensen, evaluate masses thoroughly and, when removal is the right choice, handle the procedure with care from start to finish.
Getting answers about a lump
You cannot reliably tell whether a mass is harmless or harmful just by looking at or feeling it. That is why evaluation comes first. Depending on what we find, we may recommend a fine-needle aspirate or biopsy to understand what we are dealing with before making a plan together.
What our mass and tumor care may include:
- A hands-on exam and measurement of the mass so we can track any changes
- Fine-needle aspirate or biopsy to help identify the mass
- Pre-anesthetic exam and recommended bloodwork for surgical safety
- Surgical removal under general anesthesia with dedicated pain management
- Laboratory analysis (histopathology) of removed tissue to confirm the diagnosis
- A clear follow-up and recovery plan, including any recommended next steps
Why early evaluation matters
When a mass does turn out to be concerning, catching it early often means a simpler procedure and a better outcome. Removing a small growth is usually far easier on your pet than waiting until it becomes large or begins to affect nearby tissue. Even for benign lumps, removal can improve your pet’s comfort if a mass is in an awkward spot or growing quickly.
Compassionate, transparent care
We know a “lump” can be a worrying word. We will walk you through what we find, explain your options honestly, and never pressure you. You will always understand what we are recommending and why.
Noticed a new or changing lump on your pet? Please request an appointment through our contact page and the Agave Animal Hospital team will help you get answers.
Frequently asked questions
I found a lump on my pet — is it an emergency?
Most lumps are not emergencies, but they should always be checked promptly. It is impossible to tell from the outside whether a mass is harmless or something more serious, so the safest step is to have one of our veterinarians evaluate it. Request an appointment and we will take a look and recommend the right next step.
How do you know if a mass is cancerous?
We often start with a simple, minimally invasive test called a fine-needle aspirate, where a few cells are collected and examined. When a mass is removed, we can also send the tissue to a laboratory for biopsy (histopathology) to identify exactly what it is and confirm whether it was fully removed.
Will my pet be put under anesthesia?
Most mass removals are performed under general anesthesia so your pet is comfortable and pain-free. Before surgery we perform an exam and recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork to help keep anesthesia as safe as possible, and we tailor monitoring and pain management to your individual pet.