Finding a lump or bump on your dog immediately raises the question: what is it, and is it dangerous? “Cyst” is one of the most common answers, and while many cysts in dogs are benign and require minimal intervention, the word covers a wide range of conditions in different body systems, each with its own significance. This guide covers the full spectrum of cysts dogs develop, from common skin cysts to internal organ cysts, with the diagnostic criteria, specific treatments, and red flags that distinguish a watch-and-wait cyst from one requiring urgent care. The most common cyst type in dogs. Forms when the upper portion of a hair follicle (infundibulum) becomes obstructed by keratin debris and sebaceous secretions. The follicular lumen expands over weeks to months into a palpable intradermal mass. Characteristics: well-circumscribed, round, firm to fluctuant, moves freely with the skin, not fixed to underlying tissue, non-painful, slow-growing, may have a visible central pore containing white or yellowish material. Contents: white, dry to paste-like laminated keratin (looks like cottage cheese or white toothpaste). Breeds predisposed: Miniature Schnauzer (comedo syndrome), Cocker Spaniel, Boxer, Basset Hound, Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever. Diagnosis: FNA cytology showing anucleate squamous cells (squames), keratin debris, no mast cell granules. Treatment: observation for stable, confirmed benign lesions; surgical excision for symptomatic, ruptured, or growing cysts. Recurrence if wall is incompletely excised. A variant of epidermoid cyst where the follicular opening remains patent (open to the surface) rather than fully obstructed; the follicular infundibulum dilates and fills with a keratin plug visible at the skin surface. Common in middle-aged dogs. The large pore opening with a keratin plug is pathognomonic. These may be expressed (releasing the keratin plug) but, as with all follicular cysts, the wall remains and refills; definitive treatment requires excision. True sebaceous duct cysts lined by sebaceous gland epithelium; content is oily or greasy sebum-like fluid rather than dry keratin. May present as a single cyst or as multiple small cysts (steatocystoma multiplex) scattered across the trunk and limbs. The oily content aspirated with FNA distinguishes these from epidermoid cysts. Treatment: excision of bothersome or growing cysts; multiple small lesions may be managed conservatively. Breed predisposition: Schnauzers, Shar Peis. Fluid-filled cysts arising from joint capsules or tendon sheaths, communicating with or arising near a joint space. Located adjacent to joints, most commonly the stifle (knee), carpus (wrist), and hock. Contents are straw-colored to clear synovial fluid; FNA yields viscous, straw-colored fluid with low cellularity (non-inflammatory unless secondary infection present). Synovial cysts in dogs are often associated with underlying joint disease, ligament injury, or degenerative joint disease. Diagnosis: FNA + musculoskeletal ultrasound or radiography to assess the joint. Treatment: ultrasound-guided aspiration is palliative (frequently recurs); surgical excision or arthroscopic debridement addresses the underlying joint communication. Congenital cysts containing mature skin structures (epidermis, hair follicles, sebaceous glands); located along the dorsal midline. In Rhodesian Ridgebacks, a dermoid sinus may communicate with the spinal canal (meningeal involvement) causing neurological signs or ascending meningitis if untreated. All Ridgebacks should be examined for dorsal midline tracts at birth. MRI establishes depth of involvement. Surgical excision, ideally before neurological signs develop, is the required treatment. Benign cystic dilation of apocrine sweat gland ducts; appears as a translucent, blue-tinged, dome-shaped vesicle most commonly on the head, ears, and eyelids. The blue or purple tint from the thin overlying skin covering the fluid-filled lumen is characteristic. Contents are thin, clear to slightly blue fluid. Very common on the eyelid margins and in ear canals (ceruminous gland cysts). Treatment: simple lancing and expression is often curative for small cysts; CO2 laser ablation for multiple eyelid lesions; surgical excision for large or recurrent cysts. Single or multiple fluid-filled cysts within kidney tissue, identified by abdominal ultrasound as anechoic (black on ultrasound), thin-walled, round structures without internal septation or solid components. Classification: Single or multiple fluid-filled lesions within liver parenchyma. Single simple hepatic cysts are usually incidental, benign, and require no treatment other than periodic monitoring. Multiple hepatic cysts can be associated with polycystic disease in breeds with PKD. Biliary cystadenoma is a cystic neoplasm of biliary origin (benign) causing large hepatic masses in older cats but also reported in dogs. Any hepatic cyst with internal complexity, solid components, or rapid growth should be aspirated or biopsied under ultrasound guidance to rule out hepatocellular carcinoma with central cavitation or biliary neoplasia. Alkaline phosphatase may be elevated from cyst-associated biliary compression. Splenic masses are common in dogs, particularly German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers, and represent one of the most clinically important mass lesions encountered in small animal medicine. Splenic cysts specifically are less common than solid splenic masses. Types: epidermoid splenic cysts (benign, true cysts lined by squamous epithelium), hematomas (blood-filled; often traumatic; can look cystic on ultrasound), and cavitated masses (malignant tumors including hemangiosarcoma with central necrosis). The critical clinical issue is that splenic hemangiosarcoma, a highly malignant vascular tumor with a median survival of 1-3 months even with splenectomy, frequently presents as a cavitated cystic splenic mass that is clinically and ultrasonographically indistinguishable from a benign hematoma. The 2/3 rule: approximately 2/3 of nontraumatic splenic masses in dogs are malignant, and 2/3 of malignant splenic masses are hemangiosarcoma. Splenectomy with histopathology of the excised spleen is the definitive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for any significant splenic mass; biopsy alone carries the risk of catastrophic hemorrhage. Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy (doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 IV q3wk, 5 doses) following splenectomy extends median survival for hemangiosarcoma to approximately 4-6 months. Ovarian cysts occur in intact female dogs and arise from follicular, luteal, or paraovarian structures. Classification: In intact male dogs, the prostate is the only accessory sex gland; prostatic cysts are classified as retention cysts (arising from blocked glandular ducts within the prostate parenchyma; common with benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) and paraprostatic cysts (large, sterile fluid-filled structures lateral to or separate from the prostate parenchyma, connected by a stalk; can become very large). BPH-associated retention cysts: testosterone-driven; most intact males over 5 years have microscopic BPH; signs include tenesmus, ribbon-like stools, urethral discharge; treatment: castration causes marked involution within 4-6 weeks; finasteride 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO SID is an alternative in breeding dogs. Paraprostatic cysts: can cause abdominal mass, constipation, urinary obstruction; require surgical marsupialization or omentalization plus castration. Prostatic cysts may become infected (prostatic abscess) requiring emergency drainage and long-term antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim-sulfonamide) for excellent prostatic tissue penetration. All cysts in dogs are benign and just need to be watched. While many cysts are benign, some are not, and some represent conditions requiring urgent intervention. Splenic masses in dogs have approximately a 2/3 rate of malignancy, with hemangiosarcoma being the leading diagnosis. Ovarian cysts can cause life-threatening bone marrow suppression from hyperestrogenism. Dermoid sinus cysts in Rhodesian Ridgebacks can cause ascending meningitis. Even skin cysts cannot be reliably distinguished from mast cell tumors by palpation. Every cyst in a dog deserves a proper diagnostic evaluation to determine its type before a management plan is decided. Squeezing a cyst is a quick and harmless way to drain it. Squeezing a skin cyst does not remove the cyst wall, which immediately begins refilling. More importantly, squeezing can rupture the cyst internally, releasing keratin material into the surrounding dermis and triggering an intense, painful foreign body inflammatory reaction. It can also introduce bacteria into a previously sterile cyst, converting it to an abscess. You should also never squeeze any undiagnosed skin lump: if the lump is a mast cell tumor rather than a cyst (which looks similar), squeezing it degranulates mast cells and can cause a serious histamine reaction. Only a veterinarian should handle any skin mass after confirming its identity by FNA cytology. A cyst found on ultrasound is always simple and benign and just needs to be rechecked next year. Simple, thin-walled, anechoic cysts in the kidney or liver of a middle-aged to older dog are indeed usually benign. However, complex cystic structures with internal septation, nodular components, or thick irregular walls require aspiration or biopsy under ultrasound guidance to exclude cystic neoplasia (such as biliary cystadenoma vs. biliary carcinoma in the liver, or cavitated hemangiosarcoma vs. hematoma in the spleen). The “just watch it” recommendation is appropriate only for confirmed simple cysts, confirmed by their ultrasound characteristics and clinical context, not applied to all cystic structures. A skin cyst on a dog typically appears as a round, smooth, firm to soft lump under the skin. It is freely moveable, not fixed to underlying tissue, and usually non-painful. It grows slowly over months. A small central pore or opening may be visible on the skin surface over the cyst. When a cyst ruptures, the area becomes suddenly swollen, red, and painful, with possible discharge of white cheesy material. Internal cysts (kidney, liver, spleen) have no external appearance and are discovered incidentally on abdominal ultrasound. Any new skin lump should be evaluated by a veterinarian and have FNA cytology performed, because mast cell tumors (the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs) look and feel identical to benign cysts. A confirmed benign cyst that is stable, not causing discomfort, and not in a problematic location can be monitored without immediate removal. However, rapidly growing lumps, lumps that change in character, and lumps in certain locations (digits, nail bed, near the anus) warrant more urgent attention. Skin cysts (epidermoid, follicular) rarely resolve on their own; they slowly enlarge over time. Histiocytomas in young dogs (under 3 years) do self-resolve in 1-3 months and do not require treatment. Some ovarian follicular cysts may luteinize on their own in some cycles. Splenic cysts, renal cysts, and hepatic cysts do not resolve spontaneously. The appropriate management depends on the specific cyst type. Skin cysts are removed by surgical excision under local or general anesthesia: an elliptical skin incision is made over the cyst, the cyst is dissected free from surrounding tissue keeping the wall intact, and the defect is closed in layers. The key to preventing recurrence is removing the entire cyst wall without rupture. Internal cysts (ovarian, prostatic, renal, splenic) are addressed by the appropriate surgical or minimally invasive procedure depending on the location; for example, ovarian cysts are removed with OHE (spay), and splenic masses are removed with splenectomy. A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor (not a cyst) located in the subcutaneous tissue beneath the skin rather than within the skin. Lipomas feel soft, lobulated, and move freely beneath the skin; they are typically larger than skin cysts. A cyst is within the dermis and moves with the skin when you move it. FNA cytology distinguishes them definitively: a lipoma aspirate shows mature fat cells and nothing else; a cyst aspirate shows keratin squames (epidermoid) or oily fluid (steatocystoma). No. Benign cysts in dogs are not contagious. They arise from the dog’s own tissue and are not caused by infectious agents that can be transmitted to other pets or people. The only exception is if a cyst becomes secondarily infected with bacteria; however, the bacterial infection in that context is a secondary complication, not the primary cause, and common skin bacteria (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) are specific to dogs and not typically transmitted to humans under normal circumstances. Costs vary by cyst size, location, and whether general anesthesia is needed. A small skin cyst removed under local anesthesia: approximately $200-$400. A larger cyst requiring general anesthesia: approximately $400-$900. Histopathology of the excised specimen adds $100-$200. Internal cyst removal (ovarian cyst via OHE, splenic cyst via splenectomy) involves full surgical costs of $800-$2,500 or more depending on the procedure. A pre-surgical FNA cytology consultation is approximately $75-$175. For more guides on keeping your dog healthy, browse all our Dog Health articles.
Dog Cysts: Types, Causes, and Treatment
Small Animal Internal Medicine and Oncology
This article is reviewed for clinical accuracy. Any lump, bump, or cystic mass on a dog warrants veterinary evaluation. Fine needle aspirate (FNA) cytology distinguishes most cyst types from tumors in a single office visit; biopsy with histopathology provides a definitive diagnosis. Do not attempt to drain, lance, or squeeze any cyst at home.
Key Takeaways
Types of Cysts in Dogs: Skin and Subcutaneous
Epidermoid Cysts (Infundibular / Epidermal Inclusion Cysts)
Follicular Cysts (Dilated Pore of Winer / Infundibular Distension)
Steatocystoma (Sebaceous Duct Cysts)
Synovial Cysts (Ganglion Cysts)
Dermoid Cysts / Dermoid Sinus
Apocrine Sweat Gland Cysts (Hidrocystoma)
Internal Cysts in Dogs
Renal Cysts
Hepatic Cysts
Splenic Cysts
Ovarian Cysts
Prostatic Cysts
Diagnostic Approach to Cysts in Dogs
Cyst Location
First-Line Diagnostic Test
Key Finding on Test
Skin / subcutaneous
FNA cytology (22-25g needle)
Anucleate squames (epidermoid), oily fluid (steatocystoma), mast cell granules (MCT), fat cells (lipoma)
Near joint
FNA + musculoskeletal ultrasound
Viscous straw-colored fluid (synovial cyst), joint space communication
Kidney, liver, spleen, ovary
Abdominal ultrasound
Simple anechoic cyst vs. complex mass with septa or solid components (warrants aspiration or biopsy)
Ovary (intact female)
Abdominal ultrasound + vaginal cytology + progesterone/estrogen levels
Follicular vs. luteal cyst differentiation; hormonal signs
Prostate
Abdominal ultrasound + urethral wash/ejaculate cytology
Retention vs. paraprostatic cyst; infection (degenerate neutrophils, bacteria)
Spleen
Abdominal ultrasound + thoracic radiography
Simple cyst vs. cavitated mass (hemangiosarcoma risk); metastases on chest radiograph
Treatment Overview
Cyst Type
Primary Treatment
Notes
Epidermoid / follicular skin cyst
Observation (confirmed benign, stable); surgical excision if symptomatic
Entire wall must be removed intact to prevent recurrence; histopathology recommended
Ruptured skin cyst
Prednisolone 0.5-1 mg/kg, amoxicillin-clavulanate 12.5-15 mg/kg BID, excision after 4-6 weeks
Delay surgery until acute inflammation resolves
Synovial cyst
Ultrasound-guided aspiration; surgical excision for refractory cases
Address underlying joint disease
Simple renal cyst
Monitor annually with ultrasound
No treatment for asymptomatic simple cysts
PKD (polycystic kidney disease)
Renal diet, amlodipine, erythropoietin if anemic; no cure
Breed screening available; hereditary
Ovarian follicular cyst
OHE (spay) preferred; hCG 500-1000 IU IM or GnRH 50-100 mcg IM for breeding dogs
Address hyperestrogenism complications (bone marrow suppression)
Prostatic retention cyst (BPH)
Castration (most effective); finasteride 0.1-0.5 mg/kg SID for breeding dogs
Prostate involutes 4-6 weeks post-castration
Paraprostatic cyst
Surgical marsupialization or omentalization + castration
May require drainage if infected (prostatic abscess)
Splenic mass (possible cyst vs. hemangiosarcoma)
Splenectomy + histopathology
Do not biopsy alone; hemorrhage risk; if HSA: doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 q3wk x5 post-op
Red Flags: When a Cyst in Dogs Needs Urgent Evaluation
Age-Specific Considerations
Puppies (Under 1 Year)
Adult Dogs (1-8 Years)
Senior Dogs (8+ Years)
Myths About Dog Cysts
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Cysts
What does a cyst look like on a dog?
Should I be worried about a cyst on my dog?
Can dog cysts go away on their own?
How is a cyst removed from a dog?
What is the difference between a cyst and a lipoma in dogs?
Are dog cysts contagious to other pets or people?
How much does it cost to remove a cyst from a dog?
Reviewed by a Licensed Veterinary Doctor (DVM)
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