Why is my dog's chest sore swollen, making her tired and slow?

Multiple swellings are always a concern and can indicate internal illnesses and lymph node enlargement. A full physical exam, blood tests and samples of the swelling may be required especially with the lethargy and pain

I am so sorry to hear about Sadie! Without seeing it in person it is difficult to say what the problem is. With her history and a newly occurring, large lump, I would be concerned for some type of trauma. I think you are right to be concerned about bleeding under the skin. This does not always have to be severe, but it sounds like she is in pain and I think it would be safest to have her examined. At the very least they will alleviate her discomfort and your fears! I hope this helps and she is back to normal soon!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can be possibly started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking.

Unfortunately, even in person I would be hard pressed to give you a diagnosis based only on appearance. When a client comes in with a pet that has an unknown mass, we typically consider the following as possibilities, taking many factors into account: a mass/tumor, an abscess, a cystic structure, an insect bite, an allergic reaction, or a bruise from trauma. If the structure has burst open, it is most likely not allergic or from an insect. Depending upon your dog's age, the time the lump has existed, the consistency of the fluid you have noted, and the presence / absence of any other clinical signs, one of the other options is most likely. Something the vet might be able to do is obtain some cellular material from the affected area, place it under a microscope, and see if there is any cellular material that is useful in obtaining a diagnosis. Other times, appearance alone can at least tell a vet whether or not there is an active infection. As far as the possibility of cancer, tumors are certainly able to open up as you have described. They are typically more common in elderly dogs, though even this is largely dependent on the type of tumor. I would schedule a visit with your vet sometime soon. I would also in the meantime prevent Pancakes from bothering with the area. You can either buy an e-collar from a store / vet, or try and make something homemade until a commercial one can be obtained (with it being Easter, finding a store open that has one may prove difficult). The purpose of this is to prevent any current infection from worsening, or absent infection from beginning. Hope this makes sense.

I agree that it's unlikely that Smith's collar caused this lesion in any way, but it could be causing it to be more irritated by rubbing it. From the picture, the lesion looks like an irritated papilloma, but the only ways to differentiate between different types of masses are through a fine needle aspirate or biopsy, both of which involve different ways to examine cells microscopically. Given the irritation present, continue to keep Smith's collar off of him as much as possible at home. You can also try to clean it with an antiseptic cleanser, like Hibiclens or betadine (both of which are available in most drugstores), but take care to rinse and dry well afterwards. Ultimately, I do think you should have this lesion examined by Smith's vet to help determine if it should be removed or if it can be monitored at home for changes. I hope that everything goes well!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Wallace. He's biting the area because it's bothering him. This could be a cyst, benign growth, malignant growth, or lipoma. 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 an appointment. Best of luck.

It could be that Chevy has an abscess or a cyst that has ruptured. Gently clean the area with warm water and antiseptic soap, and keep the area clean and dry. Have her seen by a vet as soon as you can so it can be treated correctly. Best of luck, I hope this helps!