My dog has a lump on the side of her body. What could it be? Could it be dangerous?

Question

My mom and I were bathing our dog today, and as we wet her fur, I realized that she had a lump a little larger than a walnut on her right side. My mom saw it as well, and she touched it. She said it didn’t feel completely hard; it was more like..mmm…gooey or something like that, yet it maintained it’s shape.

The lump moved around with touch; it wasn’t stationary.

The lump seems to be in between her ribs and her skin. My dog didn’t seem to be in pain, and she does not seem to be sick.

Does anyone have any idea what the lump can be? Has anyone had any similar experience?

Thanks,
Oscar W.

Answer 1

My mothers dog Suzie **pats dog laying next to her** has three large lumps on her. Her chest, under arm and back. Due to her breed and having her checked with vet we know they are fatty deposits which will be removed later this year. To be on the safe side though, take your dog to the vet, and they can check your pet out and take a biopsy if neccessary.

It could be a number of things eg fatty deposit, tumor, absess etc. But for your sound of mind take your pet to the vet just incase.

Answer 2

Best thing to do would be to track the lump and see if it gets larger or smaller. Also, you should go to the vet and see if the lump needs to be aspirated. This is when they put a needle into the lump, pull out a few cells, put them on a slide and stain them. The the vet can look under a microscope and determine what the lump is. It's a very easy procedure, takes just a few seconds, and is usually painless.

Although it sounds like you're describing a lipoma, or as others have already said, a fatty cyst. These are very common in dogs and usually aren't removed unless they impede the dog's normal daily life.

Don't panic! Just go see the vet.

Hope this helps. = )

Answer 3

The possibilities are greater thanyou can think. It could be dangerous, or it could be a harmless fatty lump.

Fatty cysts are very common, and sounds like what you are describing. Moves around, not too hard, not attached to muscle or bone. They are harmless and most common in older dogs.

However, it could be a dangerous tumor. Here's a good trick many dog owners use for monitoring tumors: Get a piece of wax paper, lay it over the lump and trace around it with a sharpie. Do this every 5 days for about 3 weeks, and label them 'day 1, day 5, day 10,' etc. and bring it to your vet. Your vet can then see how much it's grown, and how fast.

You obviously care about your dog, kudos to you! I'm guessing your dog is very furry if you didn't notice it before.

Answer 4

My dog had one on his shoulder about the size of a small ping-pong ball when he was 2 yrs. old. We had it removed and analysed. It wasn't cancerous just a benign tumour. A 14 1/2 year old dog with a large tumour is not a good sign I'm afraid. The vet might not want to remove it since he's 14 yrs old. Get a second opinion.

Answer 5

Could be anything from an abscess to subcutaneous fatty tumor. Only a professional would be able to give you a definitive answer. Take the dog to a vet.

Answer 6

different causes - abscess, cyst, fatty lump called lipoma or tumours. most common is a fatty lump and they feel squishy i advise take to the vets they can do a really quixk test on the lump - dont worry it could be really harmless. but the vets will put your mind at rest

Answer 7

my dog also has a small lump on her side not quite as big as yours and i ask my vet what it was and he said he was a oil gland clogged and not to worry about it keep checking it for the size to get bigger and any redness around it. if the shape would change i would have it look at.

Answer 8

I'd advise you to take your dog to a vet immediately! It could be a cancerous lump or something else serious.

Answer 9

Could be something like a tumor. I would take the dog to the vet asap.

Answer 10

OMG
you should have have it check by a vet!!
i might just be nothing but that is very abnormal so im very concerned
see a vet!!