My senior dog has lumps she chews; how can I tell if she's in pain?

Please have her checked by your vet as soon as possible. This is not normal and although any lumps are concerning, any that are painful or rapidly growing are very suspicious for underlying issues such as cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital to improve outcomes and reduce undue pain and discomfort.

I'm so sorry that Brownie has cancer! Depending on where her lump is, it can cause pain as she places pressure on it. If there is any bleeding or discharge from her lump, that can be painful as well. You can discuss your concerns with your vet, who can prescribe pain medication for Brownie to make her more comfortable. I hope this helps!

As stated by Dr. Orioles, Kelsey should, ideally, be examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate would be needed to possibly diagnose the lumps and the cause. In a senior pet, infection or cancer are always concerns in regards to rapidly developing lumps or cyts. If the lumps were to cause discomfort or be infection, you may see a behavioral change in Kelsey. This would possibly include lethargy, lameness or loss of appetite.

It could be that this dog (if she is spayed) has spay incontinence causing the leaking. This can be treated with medication. As for the lumps, it's always a possibility that any lump on a senior dog could be malignant. I agree with you, if they love her, they would take her into the vet for these issues. Dogs need regular health care, and when there is something wrong, they have to see a vet. Otherwise, they could be causing the dog to suffer. You can point that out to them, and tell them you spoke with a vet who strongly urged them to take her into the vet. 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!

With any new lump or lump that is changing, it is always best to have your veterinarian look at them and a fine needle aspirated can be done to obtain a sample of cells. If these cells look suspicious of a malignancy, then your vet can recommend surgery. From the photos that you have posted, my guess is that these may be benign, non-cancerous masses. These can still cause problems, though, by bleeding and getting infected. I would schedule Max for an exam at your earliest convenience so that you and your vet can weigh the pros and cons of surgery since he is a senior.

Poor girl. Because this mass is open and seems to be bothering her I would highly consider having this mass removed surgically. Sometimes if the mass is small (less than 2 cm's) we can do a sedative on the pet and quickly remove these. However if it is a larger mass then general anesthesia may be required. She also needs to be placed on oral antibiotics to keep this area from getting infected and daily cleaning of the mass as well. Sterile saline flushes can help keep this area relatively clean and then an e-collar placed on her can help prevent licking. If surgery isn't an option for you, then medical management with antibiotics, e-collar and regular cleanings may allow proper healing of the area, but in most cases surgical removal is the best option. Best of luck!