My dog has a firm, muscle-like bulge near his hip. What could it be?

I think the area you're talking about is right below the hip bones. That wouldn't be a bone there (if I'm understanding where you're indicating), but could be a muscle or fatty area. Since it's similar on both sides and he's walking normally, it's most likely normal. However, if you're seeing the right side get larger, I would definitely schedule a vet appointment to have the area evaluation and probably sampled with a needle or possible x-rayed. I hope the helps you decide how to proceed.

I am sorry to hear about Tia. It sounds like she could have a cyst. This is a fluid filled mass that can appear quickly (as it fills with fluid and gets larger). Sometimes they rupture and can cause a local infections. Many are benign in the sense that they don't spread/cause cancer elsewhere, but we cannot say for certain just by looking at them. Your vet may have recommended sending a sample of their aspirate to a lab for evaluation. This can help identify the type of mass and its behavior and help us determine if the mass needs to be removed or can just be monitored.

This looks like a tumor. You need to make an appointment with your veterinarian to have this mass examined and preferably have a Fine Needle Aspirate done to send to a laboratory or have it removed right away if possible, in case it is a malignant growth. The FNA will help with diagnosing whether this is malignant or benign.

Unknown lumps and bumps are virtually impossible to diagnose without, at the very least, a visual inspection of the area. As such, I will provide you with some general information. An unknown mass or lump is typically one of the following: a cystic (fluid filled) structure, an abscess (fluid-filled, but infected), a mass / tumor, an allergic reaction / insect bite, or the result of a traumatic injury. A thorough physical exam and inspection of the affected area would be needed in order to determine which is most likely. In many instances, a needle aspirate (small amount of fluid obtained from the lesion and placed on a microscope slide) or tissue biopsy would be required to obtain a definitive diagnosis as to the type of lesion. If this is not an option, one must consider the location, distribution, duration of onset, patient breed / age / sex, and a variety of other factors. As Foxy is a younger dog, it is less likely that she would have a malignant tumor on her body than if she was elderly. You mentioned that the lesion is soft - this is typically a good sign that she is dealing with something benign or harmless. Whether or not this mass has anything to do with the weight loss is very difficult to say. I would recommend you make a regular appointment to see your vet and have her assessed as a whole. Hope this makes sense.

This lump under Behr's skin is most likely something benign like a cyst or lipoma, however there is a small chance it could be something cancerous. At such a young age cancer is unlikely but not impossible. If the growth doesn't go away within a few days or it gets larger it would be a good idea to have Behr examined by a veterinarian. If necessary a small needle aspirate can be taken from the lump and looked at under the microscope to determine if it should be removed surgically. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope the small lump ends up being a benign growth!

Hello. If Scarlett has 2 lumps pretty much over each hip, & with Scarlett being a slightly older dog, then my guess is she has "love handles". If Scarlett is also a little overweight, the hips are a common place for some fat to accumulate. Rest assured that tumors rarely happen in the same area on both sides of the body, & since your vet is rather unconcerned, then it sounds like Scarlett is fine. If you are really concerned, you can ask your veterinarian to do a fine needle aspirate in which a very small needle is used to remove a drop or 2 of sample from under the lumps. A quick look will tell if there are any concerns. I hope this helps & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately there is no way to tell what that is just by looking at it. It could be a benign or malignant growth. I am concerned that it could be a mast cell tumor and I recommend having Lexi examined by her veterinarian. They will take a sample with a needle and examine it under the microscope to determine what it is and what treatment is needed.