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My senior dog has hard lumps and heavy breathing. What could it be?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 11 years and 5 months old | 100 lbs

My 12 year old lab mix has these hard nodules forming on her. One on her back towards her tail, and now more on her chest. About the size of a quarter and quarter inch thick. I'm scared if I bring her into a vet they will say cancer since she is an older dog. Are there other causes that would do this other then cancer ?also she has started breathing heavily if she walks any distance at all and has a soft mass firming on the side of her neck. Eats and drinks fine and does not act in pain at all.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 27th, 2017

I know it can be scary when thinking about possible cancerous masses in your pet. But really the only way to know for sure is to have these masses tested through your vet. They can be cancerous masses, inflammatory reactions or benign tumors (non-cancerous). The heavy breathing that Allie is doing does concern me a bit. This can either be a sign of pain or an underlying lung or heart disease. So a vet visit although no desired, is probably the bext best thing to do for Allie in figuring out what's going on with both concerns. Best of luck getting some answers and take care.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 19th, 2018
Without a photo of thee lump it is hard for me to assess the condition. This may be a mammary tumor.
You should have it examined by your veterinarian. Another possibility would be an abscess. Abscesses can usually be treated with antibiotics and/or be lanced. Your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.
Breathing heavily and coughing could be from a tumor metastatis in the lungs, or, more likely since your dog is an old dog, a congestive heart condition where the heart is not able to pump effectively anymore and therefore lung edema occurs. This makes breathing difficult and causes coughing, especially at night when she rests. Your vet can examine the heart as well when looking at the mass.Please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian soon.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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