I've been humming and hawing over this for weeks now, so thought I'd ask you guy's for your opinions.

Spud, who is a very fit and healthy 10 years old has in the past had small lumps in his skin off, there have been a few but the important ones were a grade 2 MCT ( clean margins and tiny ) and a grade 1 MCT. Now I've found another one just behind his elbow on the trunk of his body, again it's tiny, barely a mm, but it is an odd shape, long rather than round, isn't itchy or sore or red or any of the warning signs you would normally look for, but neither was his grade 2 one. So, in my position would you put him through yet another procedure ?.
These lumps are taken off under sedation and done very quickly, but I just don't know where I should draw the line, I can't keep taking him in for every little lump that appears, much as i'd like to, I don't know if I'm being fair on him, I'm afraid when it comes to my Spud, common sense flys out the window lol.

Think I would take note and watch then see the vet if there was rapid change or it became sore or itching.

I am having a large cyst removed from one of mine shortly but only because I know in time it will become infected, that will require a GA but I am sure yours will be OK left as long as it is watched.

I've been thinking the same thing over my oldie who had a back toe off and then I discovered a fast growing lump on her 'wrist' which also had to come off. Both were mct's clear margins now the dilemma of chemo and possible side effects or not. Poor girl had been to the vets for bandage changes every 2 days umpteen times & front one has manuka honey bandages to help healing as there wasnt a lot of skin to close up but her toes are swollen.  Unless something else comes up really quickly I'd be reluctant to put her through anything else at 10.5.

Spuds had this one from before Christmas with no change, Staffies are prone to lumps anyway, cancerous or otherwise, although I do wonder if thats not because they have such fine coats you tend to notice more.
I have to stop this lump obsession somewhere !

> I have to stop this lump obsession somewhere !

Easier said than done, especially when you've had experiences of the worst type of MCT as I have with Winnie (chemo and all). I am just so extra careful now and get any lump checked out thoroughly at the vets, on any of the dogs.

Would your vet do a fine needle aspiration to test the lump before you think about having it removed?  Least that way you would know if it needs to come out or be ok to be left as long as it wasnt causing your dog any problems.

All my dobes have developed assorted lumps as they have got older. I used to go to the vet every time it happened but now I just keep a check, and only take them to the vet if a lump grows very quickly or is unusual in some way. I would take the vets advice on removal, but generally, if it is not affecting the dogs quality of life, especially if the dog is old, I would leave it alone.

Would your vet do a fine needle aspiration to test the lump before you think about having it removed?

The lumps way to small for an aspiration.

I think for now, I'll leave it be, although he's 10, spud hasn't really slowed down yet, so i'm not worried if he can cope physically with a small op, it's the trauma mentally, he's such a worry wart, all the staff at the vets are very very fond of him and he knows them reasonably well,but even so he's so upset by the whole rigmarole I hate putting him through it.

Thanks for helping me make my mind up.

Lumps, bumps and warts are not the prerogative of the elderly dog, the elderly human can be effected as well. When I was young and 'beautiful' never though for one moment I would end my time with a couple of warts on my knee but warts I have and even one hair that insists on growing on my chin, just one but it arouses in me a unreasonable amount of distress.

Just thank your lucky stars it's just a hair and not a hairy wart !.

LOL Celli really would have to walk about with my head in a bag, funny really was prepared fro the wrinkles and the crêpey skin but not hair :0)