My senior Shih Tzu has a grape-sized lump near her private area. What is it?

It could be that Lady has a cyst causing this lump. In a senior dog, it could also be a malignant tumor or a benign tumor. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. If your vet sent her to a surgeon, then I would suspect that your vet believes it needs to be removed. I'm sorry you felt this surgeon was only worried about money, so I'd suggest speaking to your vet about a referral to another surgeon to get this lump diagnosed and possibly removed. It sounds like it's quite large if it's grapefruit size, and if it continues to grow, it could affect her ability to walk. In addition, if it is malignant, it needs to be removed as soon as possible. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Poor Lady Bug. Since she is not fixed, my biggest concern is cancer. She could have mammary tumors - approximately 50% are benign and the other 50% are malignant. Whether you are talking about her vulva or anus, she could have a mass on the inside that has grown its way toward the orifice so that you can now see them. These can also be benign or malignant but I would strongly recommend to have a vet look at her. Your vet will be able to help you come up with a plan that will best suit you and Lady Bug’s needs and help make her feel better. Your vet will also be able to determine whether surgery is the best option for her or if there are other options depending on what the vet thinks it is. I hope this helps!

This looks like a mass adjacent to the vulva, and it is probably not related to the recent grooming. This could be a benign mass like a lipoma or could be something more serious, and I would recommend taking her to your veterinarian to have it examined. They may want to take a small sample using a needle. Another possibility would be a hernia, although this is a little less likely based on your picture, but a veterinarian would probably be able to determine whether or not a hernia is possible based on an exam.

Hi and thank you for posting your question! From the picture, it looks like a skin tag which can grow over time and become larger. Usually these are not anything to worry too much about, although if it starts to become larger, red, swollen, or infected, you may want to have your veterinarian take a closer look. You can always have the mass aspirated and a sample sample taken from it to see if it is anything concerning. That is the only way to really definitively diagnosis any mass. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope this has helped!

It may be a benign mass or a malignant tumor. The only way to know which s to have Max physically examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. If Maxi is due for a dental cleaning any time soon, the mass could be taken off while he is under anesthesia. Monitor for rapid change or growth. If Max licks or chews at the lump, place an e-collar (cone) on him until he sees the vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your Shih Tzu. Based on your description, he may have an anal gland abscess. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian today. If an infection is present, he may need surgery to treat the wound. He would also be sent home with medications such as antibiotics and pain medications. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him to prevent any licking of the area. I hope this information helps!

Yes. A lump can mean many things including a prolapse. The licking is a concern that Gabby is uncomfortable. I recommend to getbher examined today. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.