My 1-year-old female dog has lumps under her nipples. What is it?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it would be worthwhile having her evaluated to make sure that it does indeed look like a nipple and to ensure it is not something else like a mass or nodule. Based on an examination, your veterinarian would be able to tell you if this should be biopsied or not. Good luck!

Anytime a new mass is noticed, I always recommend having it evaluated to see what it is and if anything needs to be done about it. Unfortunately, we can't tell anything about a mass by just looking at it or feeling it. Your vet can perform a simple test called a fine needle aspirate where they use a small needle to collect some cells from the mass, then look at them under the microscope. They may even need to send the cells to the lab for a pathologist to examine them, so we know what the mass is. If it is benign, you might not need to do anything about the mass at all, but if they see cells that worry them, they might recommend removing the mass. I am attaching a handout with more information about mammary tumors below in case the lumps are actually in the mammary gland. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1350 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

These could be mammary tumors even if she was spayed after her first heat. Please take her in for an exam. The veterinarian will feel the lumps and check the nipple. They can do a needle aspirate to see if it is infection or cancer. Breast cancer in dogs can be slow growing and often can be cured with surgery. They may recommend an X-ray to make sure there are no growths in her chest or abdomen before surgery. A biopsy of the lumps will also tell what it is and if it has been completely removed. If there is infection in the nipple area they will put Zephyr on antibiotics. Please have this examined soon so she can get the necessary treatment and be on the road to recovery. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Zephyr.

What you are feeling are tumors (breast cancer); very common in dogs that are not spayed. They could be benign or malignant. I can't tell you that. You need to have them surgically removed and sent to a lab for histopathology. She should also be spayed as the same time as the masses are removed. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/mammary-cancer-in-dogs/ )

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi. This is a very big mass. If it is firm and painful, this is concerning in an unspayed, older pet is cancer unfortunately. Besides a cancer, other possibilities include infection, cyst, lipoma, a benign mammary tumor, hernia, etc. She should be fully checked out and have the mass sampled to get an answer. The sooner the better in this case.

It looks like the bump is inline with her mammary chain. Intact females are prone to developing mammary tumors. Is is about a 50% chance of it being malignant. I would recommend surgical removal with biopsy. I usually recommend that the patient also be spayed at the same time to decrease the likelihood of further mammary tumor development. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.