Skin Tumours

By Dr Steve Surujbally

Angiomas
This is a simple tumour formed by a mass of small blood vessels (or in spaces where blood or lymph circulates). We know these angiomas in humans as the common ‘birth mark’. In dogs, this condition is often seen under the jaw, causing a fluctuating swelling which may rupture thus creating a continuous seepage of a clean watery fluid (lymph).

Haematoma
I suppose I should mention, under the heading of ‘skin tumours’ (swellings in, above and under the skin), the haematoma which is an amassment of blood forming a definite swelling. Anything that caused the rupture of superficial blood vessels, thud leading to a bleeding (with nowhere for the blood to go), will result in an accumulation of blood in that area. On some occasions, for example, if the dog has ear mites or a foreign object (e.g. a grass seed) lodged in its ear, the dog will shake its head vigorously. The centrifugal force created by the flapping ear (especially if the ear hits the wall) is enough to rupture tiny blood vessels. The ear flap then swells up. This condition is known as an ear haematoma. We will deal with this malady, in more detail at some other time.