Mass removals

Understanding mass removals and what it means for your pet

About mass removals

Masses are common in pets and can grow under or over their skin. Masses range in size from a few millimeters to a football size and can represent issues from benign skin tags, to large fatty growths, to malignant cancers in pets.


Mass removals usually require anesthesia or sedation to remove. This ensures your pet is pain free during the procedure, fear-free, and movement free so they won’t make any sudden movements that could cause injury. 


After a mass is removed, your vet will send it out to a laboratory for further testing. This test, called a “histopathology” is an accurate way to tell whether the mass is cancerous or not. 


In some cases, your vet may recommend monitoring the mass rather than removing it right away. This is common for masses such as skin tags.