My 4-week-old puppy has a bone-like lump on its rib cage. Is it normal?

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.

This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Differentials include skin cysts, infections, benign (very common hystiocytoma for example) or more sinister type of tumors (unlikely given the age). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Dogs commonly have their last rib as a "floating rib". That means that there isn't any cartilage that connects it to the sternum. What that means is that the last rib (or sometimes 2) will appear to end suddenly and you can feel a hard bump on their side at the bottom of their rib cage. This can be on just one side or both. Often we don't notice it until they are a little older even though it has always been there. If Lunar is painful, I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine him. A floating rib should never be painful. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Any lumps/bumps that you notice on your dog should be checked out by your vet. Lumps can be any of these things: * abscess (infection) * cyst * cancer (benign or malignant) * wart * injection site reaction * hernia There is no way I can tell you what it is just based on your description but I highly doubt it is from the rabies vaccination. That vaccine is standardly given by all veterinarians in the outside of the right hind leg (thigh area). So, being that it is near the rib cage and not seemingly bothering her I would guess it to be a cyst but again, I don't know for sure. I suggest you take her to your vet to have it checked when you can get an appointment. It is not an emergency.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

I think the area you're talking about is right below the hip bones. That wouldn't be a bone there (if I'm understanding where you're indicating), but could be a muscle or fatty area. Since it's similar on both sides and he's walking normally, it's most likely normal. However, if you're seeing the right side get larger, I would definitely schedule a vet appointment to have the area evaluation and probably sampled with a needle or possible x-rayed. I hope the helps you decide how to proceed.

That is completely normal and sometimes could be more prominent. Nothing to be worried about. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.