Why is my dog limping with a lump on his leg that's getting bigger?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is definitely concerning that the lump has increased in size so quickly, as older dogs are typically more likely to develop cancers. The lump can also be an infection or cyst. I recommend having this seen by a vet as soon as possible - they can take a small sample from the growth to determine exactly what it is and recommend the appropriate treatment. I hope all is well!

This lump looks like it could be a cyst or other skin growth or tumor, and I doubt it is related to the limping. The limping more likely would be related to arthritis, previous trauma or other joint disease. I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian. They can examine the lump and may recommend taking a sample using a small needle to determine what it is. They can also examine Moose's leg and may recommend taking x-rays.

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.

This appears to be swelling in the knee joint. What we would consider the "ankle" is much lower in the leg. There can be a pocket of joint fluid on the inside of the leg. It is possible this is a skin lump at the exact spot of this fluid pocket, but I doubt it. I suspect she is not putting weight on the leg because she injured the knee, and now as the swelling increases it is becoming more and more painful. I recommend she be seen by a veterinarian to check the stability of the knee to determine if she ruptured her crainial cruciate ligament or CCL (which is like a human's ACL).

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.

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.

I would recommend taking Seamus to the veterinarian especially if he is limping on the hind leg. He could have a soft tissue injury like a ligament tear which would require pain meds and can require surgery. Your veterinarian can take a look to see what they believe has occurred. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.