Disease Ontology ID: DDTO:0001212

Disease Description: Small fluid-filled masses accumulating under the skin.

Inherit Mode: -

Disease Symptom: The first sign of a sebaceous cyst is usually noticing a lump or a bump that was not there on your dog before. Sebaceous cysts do not usually cause the dog any pain. In fact, owners find them to be more of a nuisance because they are an eyesore. At times, however, the cysts can become bothersome, interfering with movement or getting infected. Sometimes the buildup of oily matter is so great that the cyst ruptures. In that case, it's a good idea to check for signs of infection at least two or three times every day. If the dog licks, rubs, or scratches at the cyst repeatedly, there is a greater chance of infection (more on this below).

Disease Cause: -

Disease Diagnose: Fine Needle Aspiration. A fine needle aspiration may help reveal the type of lump your dog has, but it's not as accurate as a tissue biopsy (discussed below). In this procedure, a needle is used to draw a sample of cells. The collected material is then placed on a glass slide and examined in the hospital or sent off to a pathologist for cytology. Generally, if the lump deflates and exudes a cheesy gray, brown, or yellowish material once the needle is inserted, it is likely (though not definitively) a cyst. This is not a sure-fire diagnosis method, however, since lumps are often not homogeneous (the same throughout). It's comparable to inserting a straw into a mixed berry and peach pie covered by a tea towel. When you insert the straw and draw a sample to examine, you may not be sure what type of pie it is. If you collected some peaches, you might think it's a peach pie. If you got just crust and berry sauce, you might think it was something else. Tissue Biopsy. Another, more accurate way to rule out cancer is through tissue biopsy. In this case, the procedure is more expensive and invasive, but the results are also more accurate. For a tissue biopsy, your dog will need a local anesthetic as the vet will remove a piece of the lump so it can be sent to histopathology and analyzed. If the lump is found to be malignant, your dog will need to have it totally removed. Excisional Biopsy. For this procedure, your dog will go straight to surgery to have the entire lump removed. This is the most costly option, but it's also the best to get a proper diagnosis as the whole lump is sent to pathology. Another advantage is that the entire mass will be gone, which is good if it was impairing movement or bothering the dog. The main disadvantage is that it's the most invasive option and the dog will be under total anesthesia. Since the operating vet doesn't know what the lump is, he may be removing something benign. Of course, there are no black-and-white rules when it comes to the best method for diagnosis. Depending on where the lump is, its size, and appearance, the vet may take a more conservative or drastic approach.

Treat Method: Treating a sebaceous cyst is not easy. If you try a home treatment, you may not have much luck as the underlying issue often remains. Cysts often will not disappear unless the entire sac is removed. This is something that only a veterinarian can do through surgery, which is only recommended when cysts recur, are prone to infections, or impair your dog's quality of life. Consult with your vet for the best option. Also, cysts don't like to stay empty. Even when they rupture or are drained, they tend to fill up again and you're soon back to where you started. However, there are some instances where cysts have gone away on their own and where home remedies have worked. In general if it's at all an option and if the cyst doesn't appear to be bothering the dog, it's better to leave it alone.

Breeder Advice: -

Disease Description Source: Link