my dog has a new lump, advice needed.

ste100 · 01-06-2008, 01:40 PM

hello, i would appreciate any advice or experience anyone has with relation to my dogs problem.

a few months ago my dog had a cherry size lump removed from her lower leg, and a much smaller and older lump removed from her side at the same time. she has recovered fine from the surgery and the vet said that it wasnt worth testing the removed lumps as they werent anything serious.

she now has another lump, again cherry sized, this time just under/next to one her nipples on her belly, the 2nd one down from the chest.

i am back at the vets soon to have it looked at, but im reluctant to go for more surgery as my dog is close to 10 years old and i wish to avoid further surgery.

has anyone had this experience with repeat lumps?

i am planning to ask the vet to delay surgery, and take a course where i check the size and condition of the lump over the next few weeks/months.

does this sound reasonable? given that the other lumps werent anything to worry about, do you think this lump could also be much ado about nothing.

of course, if the vet advices surgery i will have it, and if the lump becomes bigger or begins to hurt the dog, i will have it removed.

its a long post, but can anyone give me some advice on this problem?

thanks

Anela · 01-06-2008, 02:21 PM

They could be fatty tumors which are just under the skin and usually harmless.

Your vet should be able to withdraw fluid from the lump (it's painless) and determine if surgery is needed to remove it.

Older dogs tend to get these tumors, unless they are causing discomfort or other issues, lots of times they are just left alone.

Anela

ste100 · 01-06-2008, 02:27 PM

thanks for the reply.

ive been trying to get advice from several sources, and a few have agreed with what you say.

im going to ask the vet about the option of monitoring it, and taking a sample for testing, before surgery if needed.

the lump is loose under the skin, you can hold it and move it about with about problems, do you know if that is a good sign? i dont think its attached the body at all.

ChrissyBz · 01-06-2008, 04:39 PM

My older Rott had these a lot. Since I've changed my dogs diet they've all gone except for one that has shrunk to about the size of a pea. My vet said they were lipid cysts and nothing to worry about.

ste100 · 01-06-2008, 05:30 PM

thanks for the advice.

im hoping that the vet will confirm that it is just a cyst, and if it doesnt get any bigger we can leave it alone.

its good to know that others have had the same problems and havent had to resort to surgery

Shalva · 01-06-2008, 06:57 PM

you don't say (or at least I didn't see) how old your dog is.....
fatty tumours AKA lipomas are very common......
i would have your vet aspirate it and see what it is and then if it is a lipoma I wouldn't worry to much.....

I would be more concerned about the one on the belly/chest and would want to have that one looked at but once you have one checked then I wouldn't worry to much.....

when you feel it... does it feel like it is attached to anything underneath it..... or does it feel free moving....

s

ste100 · 01-07-2008, 03:18 AM

thanks for replying

she is 10 in a few months.

the lump is free moving, i can move it around a bit without any pain to the dog or any obvious obstruction.

i am planning asking the vet if he could take a sample and test it, before resorting to surgery.

thanks for the advice

the vet has checked the lump and he thinks its fine.

its a mammary tumour, caused by not being spayed.

he says its not worth removing at this time. it will probably get bigger, but as long as it doesnt break the skin or start to hurt the dog, its ok to leave it.

i am very relieved about this,

thanks