Why is my dog suddenly walking gingerly with a lump on her leg?

Please make an appointment to have Tammh seen by a vet as soon as possible. She is likely in pain, and may have a muscular or nerve injury, a fractured bone, a mass, or a foreign body in the leg. Your vet can assess the leg during the physical exam and may recommend x-rays to help determine the cause of Tammh’s limp. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to Tammh without consulting with your vet.

At her age she most likely has some arthritis that is causing the issue with her legs. Remember, at her age, she is the equivalent to about 87 years old in human years. The lump you are feeling could be any number of things. Your vet should be able to help you sort this out.

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!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the bump you are referring to in the wrist area. This can be a mass, bone cyst, fracture, or infection of the joint and is likely painful. I recommend having your dog seen by a vet as soon as possible. Your vet can take x-rays to determine exactly what is going on. i hope this helps and that all is well!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dolly. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian when possible. Her nipple may just be a bit larger than the others. However, dogs can develop mammary masses. Her veterinarian will feel the nipple and surrounding gland to see if this may be the case. If so, surgery is typically recommended. Hopefully this is not necessary though. Her hindlimbs can be evaluated at the same appointment. If she is struggling to get around and jump, it needs to be determined if her legs are sore or if the pain is actually in her back. Regardless, this is likely a separate issue from the nipple. The veterinarian will try to determine where she hurts and may recommend x-rays of the affected area. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help her feel better. In the meantime, keep her quiet and carry her as much as possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian has she has several issues. It is unlikely that the cough is related to the bump on her leg. She could have a respiratory tract infection, allergies, collapsing trachea, heart disease or a variety of other issues causing the cough. As for the bump, a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate is typically performed. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells from the bump to evaluate under the microscope. This helps to determine if any treatment is needed. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for providing a picture of Mia's lump! It could be a benign tumor, a cyst, or a malignant tumor. Unfortunately in a senior dog, there is always a chance it could be malignant. 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 it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I would take her into the vet in the next couple of days to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed. Good luck, I hope this helps!