What are the side effects of a biopsy?

Commonly, biopsies result in minimal side effects, such as itching or pain at the biopsy site, as well as potential swelling or bleeding. In the event of severe instances of these effects, pet parents should contact PetDerm immediately or their primary veterinarian if it is outside of PetDerm’s business hours.

As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that pet parents keep biopsy sites covered or have their pets wear an Elizabethan collar (“cone of shame”) or medical pet shirt until sutures are removed to prevent any potential trauma to the biopsy site.