My dog has chest bumps, but acts normal. When should I see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Since it has changed size in such a short time, I recommend getting it checked by your vet. She's very young to be developing growths or tumors but it isn't unheard of at her age. Your vet will do an exam, some lab work, probably using a needle to sample some cells from inside the lump to try to identify the kinds of cells inside and therefore what is causing the lump. Based on these results, your vet will be better able to tell you what is going on and how best to proceed from there, if it is benign or needs further investigation.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dixie. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian for a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. While dogs can develop breast cancer, it is most common in unspayed females. If it is not cancerous, she could have benign mammary growths or even fatty tumors. Based on these results, her veterinarian will make treatment recommendations if necessary. I hope this information helps!

If the bump is under the skin, smooth and you can feel almost all of the way around it you are probably feeling a lipoma or fatty mass. If the bump is hard, irregular, firmly attached to the underlying area, getting bigger, or is painful to the touch then I'm more concerned about it being a tumor and I would bring Sammy in for an exam. Most masses you feel in the skin are benign and as long as you are keeping a close watch on it you should be fine to monitor it at home. It also could be from aninjury or insect bite and it may go away on its on in a week or so. If you are still concerned please take Sammy in for an exam. They can feel the bump and remove cells with a needle and look at them under the microscope. That way they can tell if it's fat, infection, inflammation or a tumor, and they can they recommend the appropriate treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sammy.

unfortunately it is very hard to tell what a bump is without an aspirate. An aspirate is where your vet puts a very small needle into the mass and looks at the cells under a microscope. I would recommend having this done for Millie that way you know for sure if it needs surgically removed. Typically in young dogs they will get non cancerous growth like lipomas or cyst that will either stay the same or grow. Typically they do not need surgical removal unless they are causing the patient discomfort.

Are you sure this is not a nipple? Nipples can be up all the way on the chest. If this is not a nipple then these may be pimples (little abscesses), cysts or tumors. You should have them examined by your veterinarian as tumors should be removed ASAP, especially if they are of a black color (likely melanoma). Abscesses can usually be treated with antibiotics and/or be lanced, and cysts can be evacuated. Your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. The accidents in the house are unlikely to be related to the mass. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!