Scanning Lumps
Lumps and growths on our dogs are common and it can sometimes to challenging to know whether to worry about them or not.
So, here at The vets @ Dronfield, we are very proud to be able to offer a lump scanning service with the HT Vista.
This is an innovative piece of equipment that can assess lumps and bumps on dogs quickly and painlessly and give us a percentage likelihood of them being cancerous or benign.
What Happens During A Scan
Your dog’s scan will be done by one of our veterinary team. They will start by examining the lump, or lumps, we are looking at and record their location, size and how they look and feel.
We will then clip away the fur over the lump and a small area of the surrounding skin
Once we are happy, we will then hold the probe over the lump and keep it in position for 40 seconds.
During this time all your pet needs to do is stay as still as they can!
The scan isn’t painful, there is just a gentle warming sensation as the scanner works it’s magic.
How It Works;
The HT Vista works by monitoring how the heat moves through the tissue of the lump and the area around it, during both the warming process and as it cools.
The warming takes place over 10 seconds and then the changes are observed via the probe’s internal infrared thermal camera for the next 30 seconds.
The data that is collected is sent automatically to an online database and using a sophisticated and continually updated algorithm, the system creates a score for your dog’s individual mass.
What the results mean
The score gives a percentage likelihood of the lump being malignant and it is 98% accurate in correctly identifying benign lumps and 90% accurate in identifying malignant ones.
This means that although it can be wrong, it is more likely to be wrong in identifying a benign mass as being malignant, rather than the other way around, which is exactly what we would want.
We would far rather do extra testing on a mass and find it is benign, rather than chose not to do it on a cancerous mass and miss the opportunity to treat your pet.
Low Risk
If a mass comes back with a low risk of being malignant, this puts your dog in the blue zone.
Here we can be confident there is very little to be concerned about and the advice is while it is important to still keep an eye on the lump for any changes, we do not need to do any further testing.
Moderate Risk
If your pet is put into the moderate risk zone, this isn’t the time to worry but it does mean we would recommend further testing.
This can take the form of a needle biopsy which can be done conscious, a full biopsy which generally needs a general anaesthetic or we can opt for removal of the lump and testing at the lab.
Our team will talk you through these options, the pros and cons of each and also the costs
High Risk
If the HT Vista puts the lump in the red zone, it is still important to realise there is still a 50% chance the lump could be benign but it does mean there is cause for concern.
With a result in the red zone we would definitely suggest further testing or removal.
As before, our team will be able to talk you through these options and help you to decide on the best course of action for you and your dog.
With any result it is important to always remember that there is no right or wrong choice and we are here to discuss all the options and help you make the decision that is best for your pet.
How much does it cost?
1-2 lumps £50
3-4 lumps £75
4 or more lumps – £100
* Price correct as of September 2026
For each lump you will receive a detailed report via email
If you have any questions, or would like to book in for an HT Vista scan, please just give us a call on 01246903526 or send us a Whatsapp message on 07426712065
