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Dog has a new lump under jaw. Is it urgent or can I wait for vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 40 lbs

I just noticed that my dog has a lump under her jaw- it seems like it just appeared- planning to take her to the vet in the am- should I be concerned about the evening?

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 11th, 2018

This could be a tooth root abscess or a swelling from an insect bite or a salivary gland problem. Unless you think this is very painful, there is really nothing you can or need to do. If Chelsea appears in a lot of pain you may want to take her to a vet tonight, but if she is comfortable, then there is nothing you need to do.

9Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Rachel
Veterinarian
Published on July 5th, 2017
Hi there. A lump in this area could be an abscess, a lymph node swelling, or edema. It's difficult to say from a photo what the most likely possibility is. I recommend taking him into a vet for an exam. The lump may be able to be sampled with a needle in order to obtain a diagnosis.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on July 14th, 2019
Hi there. It's hard to see exactly what's going on from the photo, but it looks like Maria may have some type of swelling under her jaw. This could be an enlarged lymph node, a growth or tumor of some kind, an abscess, or a salivary mucocoele. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam. He/she can examine the area more closely, and may recommend a needle aspirate or other testing if needed to help determine what the swelling is and what kind of treatment is needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on November 19th, 2016
It sounds like this swelling could be an infection, which could be caused by a dental problem or an abscess, among other causes. What you are describing from before sounds like an allergic reaction, which can be treated with antihistamines. Allergies would typically cause symmetrical swelling, not just on one side, which is why I'm lead to believe she has an infection. Because I can't see Sophia in person, I can't say for certain that it's an infection, but I would recommend listening to your vet who has seen her in person.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on August 13th, 2018
Yes, it's possible this could be related to the insect bite and subsequent allergic reaction. Without seeing Lilly in person, however, I can't say for certain. Given that she has recently experienced an allergic reaction and now has a swelling, a visit to the vet is recommended. I would take her into the vet today to get this examined and treated. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Dog has a jaw lump. Is it an emergency or can I wait for the vet?

Given the location, it could be a tooth root abscess. It isn't an emergency, but is likely uncomfortable. If Dolly is behaving normally, she can probably see her veterinarian in the morning. An oral exam can be done to determine if there is periodontal disease and if so, if it is severe enough to cause an abscess. A complete dental cleaning and possibly extractions may be necessary. If an abscess is ruled out, your veterinarian can perform a fine needle aspirate of the lump to collect samples for pathology. This may provide a diagnosis. Treatment options can be discussed once results are returned.

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My dog has a soft lump under its jaw overnight. What should I do?

Good morning. If it is towards the back of the jaw it could be an enlarged lymph node or salivary gland. Other possible causes are an abscess or tumor. In young dogs we see a lot of abscesses in that area because they are chewing on sticks or other things and they can puncture the oral tissue and cause an abscess under the jaw. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. A needle aspirate may be done to help determine the diagnosis and treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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Why does my dog have a sudden lump on her jaw and swollen face?

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It could certainly be a sting, as the area does appear reddened. I would also consider a tooth abscess very likely as well, as they often appear somewhat suddenly and cause swelling just under the eye. If Amiga has dental disease - and you should be able to tell if she will let you look in her mouth on that side, in the back - there's a high possibility. Watch her closely for signs of a serious reaction in case this is an insect sting, as some dogs (like people) can have intense inflammatory responses. Signs would be difficulty breathing, sometimes accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, and collapse/weakness. The thing that is concerning is that from the pictures she looks to be in pain, based on the way she is squinting her eye. I would call the vet again to see if they can get her in earlier, or try a different vet - if it's a tooth root abscess it could be quite painful. The other possibility would be a mass/tumor of some type, but that seems less likely since you've just noticed this today.

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