Hey,

my white Standard Poodle has one confirmed cyst and another larger lump that appears to be a cyst, both are on his back.
He had another cyst removed about a year ago, and I'm unsure if it's worth the risk of another general anaesthetic to get these removed/the larger one biopsied- has anyone got advice on recurrent cysts?
Also could it be linked to allergies perhaps? (he has cereal allergies)

Thanks!

edit: I have another niggling question -Polo is 6 years old next month and still uncastrated but very well-behaved- when I took him in to check the cysts the vet brought up castration (as a separate issue), would there be any benefits to him at this age? I didn't hear particularly convincing arguments from my vet. I do tend to go by if it's not broke, don't fix it

Sebaceous cysts are quite common in dogs, and in my breed, and some others like GSD, OES etc. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/sebaceous-cysts-in-dogs/page1.aspx and  http://www.fetchdog.com/learn-connect/dog-resource-library/health/oncology/Cysts/D/300600/P/1:5:55:601:6106/I/AR000010539

I have luckily only had one with them, and like you she never had any until she was over 5 years old.

Unless they are very large and cause the dog pain or are in such a position that they damage them then usually you simply hope they come to a head, and clean them if they are discharging.

My husband has just had one removed from his jaw after meaning to have it attended to for over three years.

These cysts are in a way like a large white head or spot.  They most often appear on the trunk and most likely a damaged follicle does not empty and gets congested, the body then forms a capsule (the cyst).  If they burst under the skin they will cause an inflammatory reaction.

As with my husband they can be removed using the Minimal excision technique http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0401/p1409.html under a local anaesthetic, where the cyst is opened up, contents evacuated, and the lining pulled out and the wound either glued or a stitch or few put in.  Most vets are more familiar with the more invasive method of cutting them out under GA and often shaving large areas of the coat which can take ages to regrow, not good if your showing the dog.

What I do nowadays is weekly go over every inch of her, and if I find any zit size one I get the sebum out (like grainy toothpaste, clean with Surgical spirit and keep checking.  When found tiny and near the surface of the skin they resolve.  Unfortunately those in deeper tissues sit there and often won't come to a head (so they can drain and heal) for a long time if ever.  Here is a video clip of one that has come to a head beign emptied (but not while yrou eating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsmV2I3ZEcw and http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=AsSKDYG6hD0 )

My first dog had cysts when he was old, after the initial trip to the vet to identify what they were, I never took him in again for them, I have to hold my hand up and admit to squeezing ripe ones, nothing quite like a big juicy cyst.

Thank you both!

The cysts don't irritate him at all, my vet managed to drain one but not the larger one (which she was unsure if was a cyst but said she thought it was).
I think I'll just keep an eye on the cysts for now and try and clean them both regularly like you do, Brainless. If the deeper one gets any bigger I might ask about the minimal excision technique, although my vet only mentioned the GA method.
Thanks again :)

One of ours suffers from cysts, the first on his tail was removed under GA.  The next was on his dewlap which burst after scratching & although stomach churning cleaned it up and applied savalon (I think surgical spirit would be better as it's drying & doesn't keep the area moist). Since then I have lost count. Our vet always tells me they will come back unless removed properly, disagree if you can ensure that you get it all out. Have found that they are more easily removed if they are of toothpaste consistency, remember that they are contained within a skin/sac & you have to get that out. Its fairly gross, the dog is very tolerant he has had two on the go since Christmas, knew there was more to come as they didn't heal properly but they have since erupted again and this time I'm fairly certain they are empty as they are flat, dry & healing. I do keep an eye them & so does the vet, but wont put him through a GA unless necessary. I keep meaning to ask about the minimal excision technique as I'm certain there would be no problem since he tolerates my intervention. Good luck.

> I keep meaning to ask about the minimal excision technique as I'm certain there would be no problem since he tolerates my intervention. Good luck.

Some vets seem really resistant to using theirs technique, but the dogs and people that I icon having had them treated this way have been very successful. 

A reasonably tolerant dog who allows you to clean them at home will be a perfectly good candidate for having them done under a Local anaesthetic, quicker, less invasive and a lot cheaper too.

And if you are showing a dog that will not have it's show career interrupted for possibly a year or more, if the coat doesn't grow back well or the same colour.

Sadly the one place that they can be a real pain (literally) and heal poorly is on the tail.  In fact poor Lexi's litter brother had to have his tail amputated after repeated infections and pain made him so miserable, that the Vet and owner decided this was the best course, and he is like a puppy again (he's 8), shame about his show career (he won a RCC and RBIS at Open show), but his happiness was more important, and he had been all but retired anyway..

edit: I have another niggling question -Polo is 6 years old next month and still uncastrated but very well-behaved- when I took him in to check the cysts the vet brought up castration (as a separate issue), would there be any benefits to him at this age?

No there wouldn't and if he HAD had any behaviour issues, they would not change at this age anyway. I bet the only thing the vet could really come up with would be preventing tumours in the testicles, but then you might as well chop off a leg to prevent tumours there! :)