My dog has a new, firm, itchy lump on his neck. What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do recommend all abnormal growths be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if they are benign (non-cancerous) or not. Skin growths can be due to a variety of reasons, including allergies, infection, allergies, warts, or true tumors. What type of growth it is typically can be evaluated by a needle sample by your veterinarian, and then a treatment plan can be made, if needed. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry Cooper has a lump over his neck! it is hard to say exactly what the cause is without examining Cooper first, but if he recently had a vaccine in that area, it may be an inflammatory reaction due to the vaccine that was given. There are other causes as well much as a small tumor or other mass. I would recommend Cooper see his veterinarian for a closure inspection and to have a sample of the mass taken to determine what it is and if it needs to be removed or not. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. These could even be due to an infection or an allergic reaction like you pointed out. This is often differentiated by an exam and 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 him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Frank. This lump could have become red and swollen from him scratching at it, and it may now be irritated. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. I would take him into a vet tomorrow to get the lump looked at and to get the cause of his scratching diagnosed so he can be treated. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to allergies for example though other possibilities like mange cannot be ruled out. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have your pup evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Layla. Poor girl! This lump could be a cyst, an abscess (a pocket of infection), a swelling from an injury, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Unfortunately without seeing her in person, I cannot say for certain what is causing her lump. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give her vet a call in the morning to get her an appointment. I hope this helps!