My dog has a growing lump and a limp. Does it require surgery?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Without seeing the mass myself, it is difficult to say for sure what it could be. If you have not had a veterinarian take a look at this, I would recommend doing so and having some testing done to help identify what this could potentially be. The veterinarian can start by inserting a small needle into the mass and try and get a good sample of cells to look at under the microscope. The most definitive way of telling what this mass could be is to send out a tissue sample of the mass. If it is causing discomfort, I would have it removed and send it out to find out what it could be. If it is an abscess, it likely needs to be drained and then Diamond will likely need to be on a course of antibiotic therapy. Again, I would have a veterinarian take a look at this so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction!

It could be that this lump on his front leg is a cyst, but if it's preventing him from running and going on long walks without limping, it should be removed surgically. I would speak to the vet about possibly doing this for the lump. As for the new lump, that should be examined by a vet as well and a sample of the fluid should be examined to see if it is a cyst, benign tumor, or malignant tumor. If it's a cyst, then it can be removed as well surgically.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Abby. I am glad that she will see her veterinarian. She could have a cancerous growth, but hopefully it is a benign mass such as a cyst or other type of growth. A procedure known as a fine needle aspirate is commonly performed to diagnose a mass. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. Based on these results, treatment recommendations can be made. For example, if the mass appears cancerous, then surgery will be recommended. Bone cancer occurs in dogs, but is not common in the location shown in your pictures. So this is less likely. I hope this information helps!

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Since Hazel's shooting accident was so long ago, I wouldn't expect her current limp to be directly related to that injury. I suspect this is something new. It's difficult to say if the lump is the cause of her limping, but it's certainly possible. The lump could be related to an abscess (infection) secondary to a wound, or could be either a benign or malignant growth. It would be best to have Hazel seen by a veterinarian to determine the cause of her limp and the source of that lump on her shoulder. If it's an infection, she will need to go on antibiotics and the lump may need to be drained. If it's a cancerous growth, your vet can discuss the procedure and cost associated with having it removed. Regardless, this is not likely to be a problem that will resolve on its own so it's best to have Hazel seen by a vet. Hope this helps.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the bump you are referring to in the wrist area. This can be a mass, bone cyst, fracture, or infection of the joint and is likely painful. I recommend having your dog seen by a vet as soon as possible. Your vet can take x-rays to determine exactly what is going on. i hope this helps and that all is well!

This could be a seroma from an injury, a cyst, abscess or a tumor. Cysts and abscesses need to be drained by a vet. If your vet suspects a tumor, he will do a fine needle aspirate to determine whether it is a harmless lipoma, which does not need to be removed unless it is ulcerating or bothers the dog due to its location or size, or another tumor that needs to be removed. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam of the mass.

Please make an appointment to have Tammh seen by a vet as soon as possible. She is likely in pain, and may have a muscular or nerve injury, a fractured bone, a mass, or a foreign body in the leg. Your vet can assess the leg during the physical exam and may recommend x-rays to help determine the cause of Tammh’s limp. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to Tammh without consulting with your vet.