My dog has a soft lump on his neck. Is it a fatty cyst or worse?

This lump on Johnstamos (LOVE his name!) could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Because it has tripled in size, that does make it concerning. 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. As for the scabby and crusty ears, those could be due to an ear infection or allergies. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment to have both these things checked out. I hope this helps!

Thank you for posting the picture of the lump on Leo. There are several possibilities of what it could be but I suspect it is one of 3 things. A sebaceous adenoma which is a benign growth of the oil gland, a cyst, or possibly a tumor called a mast cell tumor. A veterinarian will take a needle aspirate and look at the cells under the microscope to assess if this is something that is concerning or not. If it does look like a mast cell tumor then surgical removal will likely be recommended. Best of luck and I hope it is nothing concerning. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

This could just be a benign growth but without seeing Mac in person, I can't say for certain. 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. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

Hi! This could be a benign or malgnant growth. There is a large variety of tumors that can have a similar appearance such as lipomas (benign) and mast cell tumors (malignant). I recommend you have Shya evaluated by your veterinarian for a test called fine needle aspirate which is easy, quick and pain free and in most cases yields a diagnosis. In some cases a biopsy is needed. Having this information can help guide what the next step should be for Shya, if any. I do not think it is an emergency. You should probably schedule with tour veterinarian at your earliest convenience. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything will be just fine!

I would recommend that you make an appointment for your veterinarian to examine Tyson and in particular this area that is worrying you. They will be able to determine if it is a mass and if further investigation is needed. This may include a fine needle aspirate of the mass (using a needle to obtain a sample of cells that can be looked at under the microscope), an incisional biopsy (where a small part of the mass is removed and examined by a pathologist) and an excisional biopsy (where the whole mass is removed and examined by a pathologist). It is always better to get lumps checked whilst they are still small to make removal easier and less invasive if that is deemed necessary.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bertie. Lumps generally fall into a few broad categories including growths/tumors which can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer), granulomas which are a collection of inflammatory cells, abscess/infection, among others. In young dogs, a common benign tumor called a histiocytoma can develop. These are raised growths, often pink and somewhat flat like a button. These growths oftentimes resolve on their own without treatment. I would advise that your veterinarian take a look at Bertie. They can get a detailed history and do a complete physical exam focusing on the area of the growth, They may advise diagnostics such as a fine needle aspirate or a biopsy of the growth to determine what it is. If they suspect a histiocytoma they may just advise monitoring the area but to also be on the lookout for any scratching of the ear/growth. Once a diagnosis is obtained or suspected, a sound treatment plan can be discussed. The ear is a tricky area for growths and their removal because of the lack of skin to close over the incision if they are removed. Thus, a growth in this area warrants a quick analysis by your vet. Good luck with Bertie.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Ryder. This lump could be a cyst or a benign growth. 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. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!