A new study has raised alarm among pet owners, revealing that a large amount of lumps and bumps found on dogs are never tested for cancer, despite the disease being one of the leading causes of death in pets.

The survey of more than 240 vets found that while the average vet sees around 13 skin lumps in dogs every week, only 38% are investigated with further diagnostic tests such as fine needle aspirates (FNAs) or biopsies. That means the majority of lumps are left unchecked rather than using invasive tests or newer advanced imaging techniques, with owners often told to wait and see.

Experts warn this could put dogs’ lives at risk. Around 15% of canine skin lumps are malignant, meaning thousands of cancers could go undetected until they are more advanced and harder to treat.

Leading veterinary oncologist Dr Gillian Dank explains: “Every week, countless dogs leave practices with lumps that are never tested. Many will be harmless, but when they’re not, delays can mean lost treatment opportunities and poorer outcomes.”

The study highlights key reasons behind this trend, such as many owners assuming a lump is harmless, concerns around the cost of diagnostics, and not always knowing how important early testing can be for their dog’s health.

Pet owners are urged to regularly check their dogs for new or unusual lumps and to seek veterinary advice immediately if one is found. Newer, quick, simple tests can provide peace of mind without the use of initial invasive testing. This can improve the likelihood of cancer being detected early, when treatment is most effective.

To help pet owners learn more, HT Vista has launched a dedicated pet owner page with information on cancer awareness, how non-invasive screening works, and real case stories.

You can explore it here: https://www.ht-vet.com/pet-owners-page/