My dog has a non-painful growth. Should I see the vet now or wait?

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This appears to be a skin mass. As long as it isn't bothering Chinook, it's ok to wait until Monday to get this area tested through your vet. Best case scenario is that this is a benign tumor that isn't of concern for your pet. Best wishes and take care.

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 him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. This is unlikely to be an emergency so it is ok to go to the veterinarian on Saturday unless something changes with him at home and she does not appear to be doing well at some point. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the lum has not gotten bigger and remains stable in size and character, I think it is safe to wait until the 18th for removal. Your veterinarian is likely concerned the mass is cancerous. Therefore she is likely recommending removal for a better diagnosis. It really could be anything, from an infected cancerous mass or an infected benign mass. Removal of the mass and sending it for histopathology would be the gold standard for diagnosis and prognosis.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign growth or a malignant growth such as a mast cell tumor, melanoma, among many other possibilities. I recommend you have Houdini evaluated by your veterinarian for a test called fine needle aspirate which is an easy, quick and pain-free procedure which in the majority of cases will help reach a diagnosis to identify what the best course of action is based on the findings. In some cases, a biopsy is needed for a diagnosis. If it truly is benign then removal is not necessarily recommended. However, if it is malignant and it has not spread to other locations, then surgical removal is recommended. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear Holly has a growth. I do recommend all abnormal growths be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if they are benign (non-cancerous) or not. A veterinarian can do a needle sample (aspirate) to help determine what this growth is, and any further treatment or care that may be needed. Good luck!

As long as she is otherwise acting ok, it is not growing rapidly, and/or has a discharge then you could wait and take her this weekend. Your vet can do a needle aspirate to help determine the cause and determine if the lump needs to be removed or treated.

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!