My dog has a growing lump preventing walking. Abscess or cyst?

Diamond needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. This could be a cyst, an abscess or a necrotic tumor. It looks like it could be infected whatever the cause. If it is a cyst or tumor, it will need to be removed. If it is an abscess, it will need a drain. It probably does hurt. She needs an exam, possible diagnostics, medications to address and infection (if present) and pain. She also needs an elizabethan collar so she cannot lick the area. I hope they figure out the cause quickly.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. What you are describing sounds as though this may be a cyst of some sort. However, I would be unable to confirm this with just a description. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine the growth so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. The vet can insert a small needle into the mass and look at the fluid / cells under a microscope to help determine what it could be, a test called a fine needle aspirate with cytology. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, it does not look like a cyst nor a tumour but more likely an abscess. I would recommend to see a vet because I think Scooby needs to have his teeth checked and will most likely need antibiotics and a thorough clean of the abscess. Hope all goes well ! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This appears to be a skin mass/tumor and can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). My hunch tells me it is likely a sebaceous gland cyst (benign tumor); however, it is always best to get masses tested through your vet to be sure. Masses like this are often removed during another surgical procedure, such as a teeth cleaning. Removal should be considered in case this thing ruptures or causes irritation to Sydney in the near future. I hope things work out well for your pet Sydney. Take care.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Chances are that this is a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts are usually harmless, sack-like growths with a lining that is not cancerous. In dogs, most cysts develop from hair follicles. These cysts typically appear as single, clearly defined, firm or soft lumps located in the skin or just beneath it. They are often between 0.5 to 5 centimetres in size and may sometimes have a bluish colour. A cyst can release a thick, gray-to-yellow-brown cheesy substance if it bursts. Other terms for sebaceous cysts in dogs include infundibular or follicular cysts. The lump needs to have a fine needle aspirate (FNA)/cytology to be sure of that diagnosis. Here is a link about the procedure and why it is done. It does not require anesthesia. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cytology-fine-needle-aspiration-fna ) If it is a sebaceous cyst, it will be very obvious once the vet introduces the needle into the lump. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would recommend having this surgically removed and then send out the actual tissue sample for a definitive diagnosis. The test to have the slide interpreted and also to have the tissue sample interpreted are the exact same cost typically or very close in price, which is typically over $300. Why spend that much to have a slide interpreted when you can just have it removed and get a more definitive answer with an actual tissue sample being interpreted? The needle aspirate test is great but unfortunately it does not provide one with a definitive diagnosis. Since this is near a mammary gland I would want to know for sure what this is. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like this wound that became a lump that is oozing fluid has become an abscess, or a pocket of infected fluid. Abscesses form when infection is trapped under the skin or within tissues such as fat or muscle. The bacteria will try to find a way out, so they can break through the skin and create a "draining tract" of pus. This should be addressed by your veterinarian, who will likely drain the abscess and open it up to allow continuous drainage. Antibiotics for at least 2 weeks will be needed, along with pain medications. Depending on the size of the wound/abscess, a bandage may be needed. I hope this is helpful! Thank you for seeking care for your Luna!