My dog has a vaginal lump and won't stop licking. Vet visit needed?

The vulva looks swollen indeed. Stevie may have vaginitis, which is not uncommon in young dogs. It is usually mild but irritating bacterial infection of vulva. The other explanation I can think of is a small wound or insect bite the triggered the itchiness and irritation and Stevie by continues licking the area, made it worse. First of all, you need to stop her from licking the vulva. Head cone would be ideal. If she doesn't tolerate a cone you could try a diaper, but a cone would be better. If the swelling does not go down or at least improve in the next 24hrs you will need to take Stevie to your local vets for a check up.

Thank you for the photo of the lump on the side of Lily's vulva, I can see it clearly in the photo. From the photo, it doesn't appear to be ulcerated, bleeding, or look otherwise "nasty" on the outside. That doesn't necessarily rule out it being a malignant lump, but this appearance is better than it being what I described above, if that makes sense. While there is a chance it could be malignant, given her age, there is also a possibility that it could simply be a benign growth, a good possibility given its appearance. Again, I can't say that for certain, but benign growths and malignant growths tend to have certain characteristics, and appearance can be one of those characteristics (but not always!). Sorry that I can't be more specific, but unfortunately I cannot be specific without seeing her in person. I do think it's good that you are having her seen by a vet for this, especially since it has grown in size a little, and waiting another 10 days does not seem like a big deal in this case. If you are especially concerned, you can ask to be put on the cancellation list, where they can call you a spot opens up sooner. I hope this helps!

This could be an infection but could rarely indicate a type of skin tumor like a mast cell tumor. You can try to keep her from licking the area and apply an antibiotic ointment to see if it helps. However if it gets worse, does not improve, she has any vaginal discharge and/or odor it can indicate a more serious problem and she needs to be seen by a veterinarian

This could be a growth and in a dog Blondie's age, there is a chance it could be malignant. It does appear to be bothering her if she gets defensive when you try to look at it and is licking it. I'd have her seen by a vet for it this week. I hope this helps!

This appears to be a large mammary tumour or mastitis which with her other symptoms is very concerning. She must be assessed by a vet to determine the most appropriate treatment, both conditions can ve life threatening if not treated

It would be a good idea to have the lump removed, as there is always a chance any lump in a senior dog could be malignant. Plus not every type of cancer can be diagnosed with an aspirate, further tests are needed like a biopsy. I hope this helps!

Thank you for your question. If you have access to a veterinarian, I would go there now. It is a little difficult to tell from the picture, but this looks like it could possibly be a vaginal prolapse, meaning some of the tissue from inside the vagina has come out. The sooner this gets addressed the better the chance of recovery. Once it stays out, it can swell and get harder to put back inside. I hope Midge can get help soon!