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My dog is limping and has a hard hip bump. Is it a tumor?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | unspayed | 10 years old | 52 lbs

My female dog is limping and her left hip has a bump or protruding(hard bump, it seems like a bone). Her right side stomach seemed to be tucked in when walking. Could it be hip dysplasia or a spine related disease or injury?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on January 23rd, 2020

Hip dysplasia does not cause lumps or bumps. I would be concerned this is a tumor and I recommend to have her examined. Older dogs (just like people) are more prone to develop lumps/bumps and some of these can be cancerous.
Older pets are also more prone to arthritis. Here are links about arthritis and hip dysplasia.
https://www.petcoach.co/article/arthritis-degenerative-joint-disease-osteoarthritis-2/

https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-ways-to-manage-your-dogs-arthritis/

https://www.petcoach.co/article/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention/

I recommend to have Micah checked by the veterinarian and she may need an x-ray. I hope they figure it out quickly.

7Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on March 27th, 2018
This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer. Has it been already diagnosed? I am asking as without the diagnosis it is not possible to provide appropriate treatment options.
Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration).
Differentials include skin cysts, infections, benign or more sinister type of tumors.
Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Celestin, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Dentistry Resident
Published on July 29th, 2017
Hello! As a large breed, older dog things like arthritis and hip dysplasia are definitely on the list of possible diagnoses. The lump may be a separate issue and not necessarily related to her favoring one leg.

I recommend having Spirit examined by a veterinarian to observe her gait or walk, assess her range of motion, x-rays of the hips, and assess the mass and determine whether it is a contributing factor or separate issue.

Unfortunately, with masses you cannot just look at them and say what they are.
Ideally a biopsy should be preformed in order to get a definitive diagnosis. Your vet can preform a fine needle aspirate of the lump, but there is a chance that the sample is none diagnostic and you will end up needing to do a biopsy anyway. Although less invasive, FNA does not provide a definitive diagnosis, as only cells are evaluated.

Hopefully this was helpful. I hope Spirit gets back to felling herself.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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