Molly has a big black wart

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Well my DS found a small black lump on Molly's right front "elbow" about three months ago. We've been keeping an eye it, and over last weekend, I checked it and it's definitely gotten larger. So off to the vet we went on Tuesday. Vet said it's a wart and not malignant. But come to think of it, he didn't run any kind of tests to confirm this. Anyway, he put her on antibiotics for five days, and we will re-evaluate this at that time.

Here's a somewhat blurry picture of what it looks like:

You can tell from DH finger the size of the thing. This is my problem. I've done some research, and if it is indeed a wart, we likely don't need to do anything. However, the vet is saying that if we want to have it surgically removed we need to do it soon so that he has enough skin around it to suture the incision closed. 

Anyone have any thoughts on this.

[Wendy Taylor]

Did the vet say anything about spraying it with liquid nitrogen to freeze it as a possibility? Seems like a surgical procedure that would involve general anesthesia, cutting, and stitches for a spot that is benign and not bothersome has risks that outweigh the benefits. The elbow is also a tricky area, especially if it's right on the elbow joint where it bends. Though I suppose one benefit of having it removed is that the spot would be sent for pathology and you'd know exactly if it was a wart or something else....if the diagnosis is in question.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack had a growth removed right where his tail attaches to his back with just local anesthetic; it took 20-30 minutes and did require some dissolving stitches, but he did not have to be anesthetized for it, and no special care afterwards. The biopsy showed it was some kind of strange mole.

[Wendy Taylor]

In my second life, I would LOVE to be a doggie dermatologist, hehe.

[Janice Hammond]

I think I would get it off before it get too large and gets caught or rubbed on something or Molly starts worrying it.

[Margaret & Pebbles]

When I had my cocker she had a number of warts, mostly on top of her head and her back.  They never got any larger, and because of the location, she couldn't get to them.  My groomer was very careful with her, so I never had a problem with them.  But being in Molly's location the freezing sounds like a good option.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad it isn't malignant, Andrea. I haven't had experience with warts but if it's gotten larger in three months, I think I would look into having it removed.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna grew one of those and it fell off after a few months.  It was on the inner flap of her ear and wasn't infected so the vet said it could just be watched patiently.

[F, Calla & Luca]

My thoughts are different than some on this. I hope your vet is certain. This lesion looks so pigmented to me but of course the vet has seen it in situ.  I would not freeze the lesion since that gives you no information about the nature of the lesion. If you remove it and get a pathological exam you can be sure of what the lesion really is. That would be prudent in my mind. But of course other factors like Molly's age and general health come into play too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'd vote for the removal too.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Did the vet take any samples of the lump?  When Luna had hers examined he took some fine needle aspirates to look at the cells.  We were relieved when he said the cells looked normal and were more comfortable taking a "wait and watch" approach.  

The vet gave us antibiotics for Luna's wart just in case it got infected when it started to break apart (hers was MUCH bigger than this one, though).  We didn't land up using them.

Since this is in a good "spot" for removal (there is excess skin) I would just have it taken off.  We didn't really have a choice with Luna since the ear flap doesn't have extra skin and she would have had a big scar.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If it is a wart, why does she need antibiotics?

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I am concerned about a couple of things.  I have never heard of treating a wart with an antibiotic.  Warts are a virus.  I just took Seda in for a lesion on her paw pad and the Vet scraped the top off, did a needle biopsy and looked at it under the microscope to diagnose what it was.  Given how many things these lesions could be, I would either want a tissue diagnosis (they can do punch biopsies on these) or I would want it surgically removed while it is small and a path report on the tissue.  It concerns me that you feel it is getting larger.  I don't think a local anesthetic and a few stitches would be a big ordeal if it put your mind to rest.  At the very least, I think I would either get a second opinion or take the dog back for a biopsy.  It is just too easy to misdiagnose lumps and bumps.