04/07/2026
🚨 FOUND A LUMP ON YOUR DOG? Don’t assume it’s “just a bump.”
Skin tumors are some of the most common cancers I see in dogs. Many are benign, but not all. One of the big ones to know is the mast cell tumor (MCT).
Mast cells are part of the immune system. They’re loaded with inflammatory chemicals used to fight parasites and they react with IgE during allergies. Sometimes those cells go off track and form tumors.
MCTs are:
- One of the most common skin tumors in dogs
- About 7% to 21% of canine skin tumors
- Usually in the skin, but can occur internally
- Dogs at higher risk
Any dog can get an MCT, but I’m extra watchful with: Boxers, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers, Weimaraners, Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
Shar-Peis can develop more aggressive tumors at a younger age.
Signs to watch for
Most common: a skin lump. But MCTs can be sneaky:
1. Raised bump that changes size
2. Redness, swelling
3. Ulceration or bleeding
4. Itching, licking, chewing
5. Whole-body signs can happen because mast cells release histamine:
6. Vomiting/diarrhea, low appetite
7. Lethargy, behavior changes
Diagnosis + grading
First step is often a needle aspirate. To know how serious it is, you need a biopsy and grade:
Grade 1: local, rarely spreads, surgery often curative
Grade 2: may or may not spread, surgery often works
Grade 3: aggressive, can spread to liver/spleen/bone marrow
Conventional treatment options
- Surgery is the main one (often curative for Grade 1 and many Grade 2).
- More advanced cases may need radiation/chemo.
- Prednisone can shrink tumors temporarily.
- A newer option is tigilanol tiglate (Stelfonta), an injection that cuts off blood supply and destroys tumor cells, but can cause swelling and open wounds while healing.
Natural support I’d consider (with your vet)
1. Natural antihistamines: nettle 100 mg/10 lbs daily, quercetin 50–100 mg/10 lbs daily
2. Licorice root extract: 0.5 ml/20 lbs twice daily (short term)
3. Dandelion root extract: simmer 1 tsp/10 lbs, daily for 14 days, then assess
4. Cannabinoid blend (CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC): 3 mg/10 lbs twice daily, topical or oral
5. Medicinal mushrooms: turkey tail 100 mg/10 lbs daily, chaga (oral/topical)
6. Chaga paste: chaga tea + powder + castor oil + neem oil, apply, cover with gauze overnight, daily
If this were my dog: confirm diagnosis, determine grade, consider surgery early for Grade 1–2, add support, and monitor closely.
Have you ever found a lump that changed size day to day—and what did it end up being?