My puppy has a pea-sized lump on its rib cage. What should I do?

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!

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!

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.

This can be a benign lump, or it could be a lipoma or cyst. 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'd give his vet a call tomorrow to make him an appointment. Best of luck.

Lumps can be solid or fluid filled, benign or malignant. It is very difficult to determine which without a physical exam and diagnostics. If the lump is not bothering Poncik or impeding movement, then you can monitor it for rapid change or. Since you are obviously concerned though, you can have her examined by your veterinarian. The vet can perform a fine needle aspirate in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. Once results are returned, you and your vet can decide the best course of action.

unfortunately it is very hard to tell what a bump is without an aspirate. An aspirate is where your vet puts a very small needle into the mass and looks at the cells under a microscope. I would recommend having this done for Millie that way you know for sure if it needs surgically removed. Typically in young dogs they will get non cancerous growth like lipomas or cyst that will either stay the same or grow. Typically they do not need surgical removal unless they are causing the patient discomfort.

It's concerning this lump has gotten bigger, and it could be a cyst, a benign growth, or a malignant 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 S's vet a call to make her an appointment.