My dog has a rib cage bump and gum disease. Should I get a second opinion?

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Bubba. Fatty cells are typically indicators of a lipoma, but based on the fact you posted here asking if you should get a second opinion, I have the feeling you'd feel better if you did get one. There's no harm in getting a second opinion, especially if it will give you more certainty. I hope this helps!

It's difficult to know what this may be, but it's generally not normal for a bump to be growing on the back. I think it would definitely be worthwhile to seek a second opinion for this. Below is a link to some more information about lumps and bumps on dogs, which may help to give you an idea of what it may be. https://www.petcoach.co/article/lumps-and-bumps-on-your-pet/ I hope that helps and all is well with Seren.

The problem with big lumps is that they get affect her movement. Without seeing Bell in person, I can't say for certain what I would do, but personally I would recommend having them removed before they get bigger. You can take her into another vet to get a second opinion. I hope this helps.

Discuss your dog's quality of life with your family and vet. Consider xrays and bloodwork to diagnose the cause of the weight loss. A biopsy of the area at the hind end may also provide information which could aid you with this difficult decision. It could be a treatable infection. A second opinion is not a bad idea in this situation, especially if your dog is eating and "happy".

This could be a cyst or a benign tumor. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. I would give Lily's vet a call in the morning to make her an appointment. Best of luck.

Yes! If there is no improvement then he definitely needs a recheck. They can always aspirate or biopsy a sample of that growth to determine if it is a lymph node or a salivary gland because it may need a surgery ir simply stronger antibiotics. Blood work may not be a bad idea either to make sure there isn't a systemic infection.

Yes, I would have it relooked at to be safe. Without seeing it in person, I can't say if it's normal or not, so it's always good to have any concerning part of your dog's body checked out by a vet.