My senior dog has leg growths, licking and limping. What should I do?

Unfortunately it is hard to tell what that lump is just by the picture. I would recommend you take her in to see your vet for an exam and potentially a fine needle aspirate of this lump. A fine needle aspirate is a way to try to exfoliate cells from the lump and look at them under the microscope to try to tell what this lump is. Even if it is a benign lump, she may need to have it removed if she continues to lick it. She also may need topical treatment or potentially antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatories if the lump is infected or causing her pain. I often recommend taking lumps off of legs sooner, as they are easier and generally less expensive to remove and close the skin when they are small. Large lumps on limbs can be quite difficult to remove, as there isn't much additional skin in this area to close over the wound.

I recommend putting a cone on Slick so he doesn't lick the nodule, or you can put him in a Tee shirt if that will cover the nodule and that should stop him from getting to it. Please clean the growth with hydrogen peroxide and apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. It should dry up and start to heal if he leaves it alone. Also take a photo every few days so you can tell if it's getting bigger. The nodule may be an irritated wart or a benign growth which would be nothing to be overly concerned about. It it's a malignant tumor it will grow and even if Slick is not licking it it may continue to ooze or bleed. For a diagnosis I would take Slick in for an exam and they can do a needle aspirate and look at the cells under the microscope. Some nodules if they are small or narrow at the base can be removed with a local anesthetic and then the nodule itself can be sent for a biopsy. Again the best way to know if this is serious is to get a veterinary exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Slick.

Poor Lily! These lumps look quite irritated and ulcerated. She may already be experiencing some degree of pain and discomfort from these lumps, as indicated by her chewing on them. Other signs of pain in dogs include a decreased appetite, lethargy, and abnormal vocalization. When it comes to surgery, age is not a disease, so if Lily's physical exam and pre-operative blood testing is normal, she is likely to do well with surgical removal of these lumps. It may be worth discussing surgical options, as well as pain medication options, with Lily's vet. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

I see what you mean about the growth. I would be concerned about it because it's clearly bothering Apple Crisp, and the fact that she is an older dog. Any growth in an older dog has a chance of being 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 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 her vet a call to make her an appointment. Until she sees the vet, put a cone on her to keep her from licking the growth. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. Given the fact that it is growing quickly, a malignant tumor is more likely. 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 her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

This growth could be benign or 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 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 Momo's vet a call in the morning to make her an appointment.

With how quickly the bump appeared on Ellie, I recommend having your veterinarian take an aspirate of it. An aspirate consists of your veterinarian placing a needle in the growth to try to collect cells. They can then evaluate it under a microscope or send it to a pathologist to evaluate. This may or may not get us a complete answer. The bump could be a benign (non-cancerous) growth but it also could be something to be concerned about. The best way to determine if this is something at all to be concerned about is to remove the growth under anesthesia, send the growth to a pathologist and have a pathologist examine the tissue.