Dog chest lump: Abscess vs. tumor? What are the behavioral signs?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would agree that the mediastinal mass is very evident and I would also be very suspicious that it is in fact cancer even if the biopsy did not show that. Sometimes dogs appear to be comfortable even when they are in pain. These new lumps you describe could be somewhat related to this or may be unrelated. I think it would be ideal to have Yogi reevaluated to see if the mass has progressed and if the nodules in the lungs (which likely represent spread of the tumor) have also progressed. I would maintain him on pain control medications even if he does not appear to be obviously in pain. Good luck and have a great day!

Unfortunately, even in person I would be hard pressed to give you a diagnosis based only on appearance. When a client comes in with a pet that has an unknown mass, we typically consider the following as possibilities, taking many factors into account: a mass/tumor, an abscess, a cystic structure, an insect bite, an allergic reaction, or a bruise from trauma. If the structure has burst open, it is most likely not allergic or from an insect. Depending upon your dog's age, the time the lump has existed, the consistency of the fluid you have noted, and the presence / absence of any other clinical signs, one of the other options is most likely. Something the vet might be able to do is obtain some cellular material from the affected area, place it under a microscope, and see if there is any cellular material that is useful in obtaining a diagnosis. Other times, appearance alone can at least tell a vet whether or not there is an active infection. As far as the possibility of cancer, tumors are certainly able to open up as you have described. They are typically more common in elderly dogs, though even this is largely dependent on the type of tumor. I would schedule a visit with your vet sometime soon. I would also in the meantime prevent Pancakes from bothering with the area. You can either buy an e-collar from a store / vet, or try and make something homemade until a commercial one can be obtained (with it being Easter, finding a store open that has one may prove difficult). The purpose of this is to prevent any current infection from worsening, or absent infection from beginning. Hope this makes sense.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Yogi. I am sorry to hear of his recent diagnosis. It is wonderful that he is still feeling well. I do not suspect this will be the case for long, as the mass and fluid will ultimately interfere with his ability to breathe. If treatment is not possible, it will continue to grow. I would suspect this to happen within 1-3 months. You can consider pain medication if his attitude or appetite changes. His veterinarian can prescribe something for him. In the meantime, enjoy all of your time with him.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The fact that these biopsies have come back inconclusive does not mean that this is not cancer. Unfortunately, this is very likely an aggressive form of cancer. After seeing these images, my main concern is that this is possibly a tumor arising from one of the ribs or sternebrae such as osteosarcoma for instance. In one of the images I see that there is likely pulmonary nodules which are most likely due to metastasis or spread of this cancer. It is hard for me to advice further without being able to look at more images or know more about the case. I would encourage you to check in again with them as another biopsy could be performed. Also, if there is truly already signs of metastasis, the treatment options and prognosis are also limited. I would mention to them the possibility of being referred to a veterinary oncologist who can look at the case with more details and advice further. I really hope they can help you and your boy!

Thank you for your question. A lump the size of a cupped fist on the neck of a 10 lb dog is a big lump!! I can't tell you exactly what it is, but there are a few possibilities. Depending on the location, an enlarged lymph node is possible, but that is pretty huge for a lymph node. I would suspect this is either an abscess or a tumor. You will want to get Zuki to the veterinarian so they can perform a fine needle aspirate, which is where they use a needle to collect cells and look under the microscope to make a diagnosis. If this is just an abscess, they might be able to lance and drain it and make Zuki feel much better. If this is a tumor, it will not be so simple. Until you can get to the veterinarian, you can trim the hair, and place a hot pack over the area for 10 minutes several times a day. If it is an abscess, this might help it break open and drain. But don't wait long to seek veterinary care, as it could get much worse. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Yogi! It’s hard to know if this is related to the tumor or a problem by itself. Since you saw the blood in the phlegm, I recommend to have him examined by his veterinarian. Even if this is related to the tumor there are medications that can control inflammation and keep him more comfortable. One thing you can do at home that may help us start him on an omega-3 fatty acid supplement for dogs. This will act as a natural anti-inflammatory and improve the lining of the respiratory tract. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, thank you for your question about Leo. The lump on Leo's side could be a variety of things, benign or malignant. Based on the symptoms you are describing one of the most likely types is a lipoma, a benign fatty tumor. These tend to be nonpainful and grow slowly in size. However, other types of masses are possible. The best way to identify the specific type of mass would be to have Leo seen by a veterinarian so that they can examine the mass and collect a small sample of cells from the mass for analysis. Once the type of mass is known further treatment options can be discussed. Although I can't say for sure it is uncommon for most types of skin cancer to lead to urinary/fecal accidents. Hope this helps, good luck!