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Ask the Veterinarian/Lumps on Dog's Legs and sides

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Expert: - 6/4/2011


Question
Front leg
Front leg
This morning when I went to work my dog (an English Bulldog) was fine.  When I got home, he has dozens of bumps all over his legs.  If I feel hard on his sides, head and neck, I can feel them deep in his skin too (he is fatty in these areas--he is about 65lbs).  There are literally dozens of these lumps.  They range in size from the size of a pencil eraser, to almost the size of a quarter.  His fur is still there and isn't falling out.  When I lift his loose skin up, the lumps DO lift up with the skin.  I believe this is unrelated, but he also has a hotspot on his neck which he does get every summer--I haven't had the hotspot diagnosed by a vet, but since he gets these commonly I am quite certain that's what it is--we live in a hot area.  He is still eating and drinking normal.  He's not acting lethargic (although he is already a lazy dog so it's hard to tell).  It's hard to imagine how all of these lumps got there in such a short period of time.  I have some amoxicillin leftover from an infection my other bulldog had a year ago, and also some benadryl--I'm just not sure what to give him.  My husband said he ate a slice of cucumber off the ground last night, however from what I've read online that shouldn't cause this sort of reaction.  He does have quite a medical history.  Has had both eyes operated on for cherry eyes, and has also had surgery twice for bladder stones (they shouldn't be an issue anymore as they have surgically cut him a larger "exit hole"--I apologize I don't know the medical term for this).  He is neutered.  He is 4 years old now.  He is due for vaccinations in the next month or so.  Our other bulldog is not showing any sort of symptoms at all.  Thanks for your help :)

Answer
While I can't diagnose anything for you Kieran, it looks like he is having an allergic reaction to something. Could be the cucumber, more than likely it's from some kind of bug bite.

You could give him a Benadryl but you should have a vet look at him tomorrow if these haven't resolved. He can give you something to keep on hand for emergencies in case he has a severe reaction to something.

You should get him on a reduced calorie diet as well to drop some of that weight. That will help with his breathing and his reactions to things as well.

These types of allergic reactions are very common in dogs, but they can't be ignored. They can become very serious.

Hot spots are not from living in a hot area. They are from infections of the skin secondary to irritations from fleas etc, which lead to scratching and chewing, which lead to the infections. Hot spots need to be shaved, cleaned and dried out with medications. They too, can become very serious.

I hope this helps and that he feels better soon!

Jana Connell RVT, CVT

Expertise

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

Experience

I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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