Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My female dog has small lumps near her mammary glands. What are they?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | unspayed | 30 lbs

I noticed that stela have two very small lump beside her mammary gland. What it could be?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on March 12th, 2018

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on August 30th, 2017
A firm mass near or on the mammary gland of an intact, older female dog may be a mammary gland tumor (breast cancer). Tuppence should be examined by your veterinarian. A simple fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. This may be able to diagnose the nature of the mass. It can be done in one visit. If the tumor is malignant, your veterinarian may recommend chest x-rays and surgery to resect the mammary gland or chain of glands on the affected side.
Discuss payment plans or alternative financing such as CareCredit (www.carecredit.com) with your veterinarian. Consider asking family members or friends to help defray costs. You may also be able to secure financial assistance through local charities and Red Rover (www.redrover.org).
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on February 19th, 2017
Being an intact, older female increases the risk for Duchess to develop mammary gland tumors. Have her examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate can be done on the suspect masses to collect samples for pathology. If a malignant mammary gland tumor is diagnosed, discuss treatment options with your veterinarian or veterinary oncologist. You can also simply monitor the masses for rapid change or growth. See your vet if they cause discomfort or impede movement.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 23rd, 2017
Unfortunately a second opinion might be warranted, unless the vet did a needle aspirate of the mass and determined it is a benign type of tumor (there are different tumor types in the mammary glands of dogs, some are benign and don't spread while others are more aggressive and can spread). If your vet did an aspirate and determined the tumors are benign, then I would follow his recommendations. If your vet did no testing,however, I would request a needle aspirate and depending on the results x-rays of the chest. If your vet isn't interested, consider a second opinion. Here is an article with a little more info on this disease in dogs FYI: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1350
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

Should I worry about my female dog's soft mammary lump with discharge?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

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

Hello. This is probably benign mammary hyperplasia, but you do want to have this looked at, especially if she has been spayed. If she has not been spayed & has never been with a male dog, then this could be related to a false pregnancy. Also, has she been in contact with anyone who is on hormone replacement therapy? Sometimes, this can rub off on a pet & cause mammary enlargement. If no outside cause can be found, then have her spayed if that has not already been done, & submit a biopsy to see exactly what is going on with the tissue. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has new firm lumps on breast and near vagina. Is it cancer?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! An appointment on Friday should be okay, as long as you do not notice the mass bleeding or any discharge coming from the nipple. While these growths may be cancerous, they may also be an infection. Your vet can recommend a fine needle aspirate, which is a procedure that takes a small needle to collect a number of cells that can be looked at under a microscope to determine what the mass is. They may also recommend surgery, along with blood-work and x-rays to make sure that there is no spread or compromise of Juliette's organs. I hope all is well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My unspayed female dog has a hard breast lump. What is it?

It is difficult to tell what is going on with Panthera based on the picture alone. The lump in the picture almost looks wet, so I would be concerned about a potential cyst or infected gland. Since she is unspayed, I also worry about potential mammary cancer, which we see more commonly in intact females. It can present as firm masses under the mammary glands. Dogs can also get benign masses of the mammary tissue as well. The best course of action would be to take her to your regular vet to have them evaluate her. She may need a fine needle aspirate of the lump. This is when we take a sample of cells from the area and look at it under the microscope to try to determine what the underlying cause is. It is no more painful than a vaccine and can give a lot of information as to if anything further needs to be done for Panthera or not.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What are the tiny lumps under my unspayed female dog's nipples?

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/ )

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has stomach bumps that don't bother her. What are they?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a mammary tumor. This could be a benign or malignant growth. 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 day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My 7-month-old dog has painful jaw lumps. Should I see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. These could even represent infection sites or lymph nodes. 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 day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share