My senior dog has a sudden, large lump on her neck. Should I worry?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend Roxy be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If they are enlarged lymph nodes throughout her body, it could be due to a development of lymphoma, or an infectious disease, for example. An early diagnosis of either (or another underlying issue) would be very beneficial for treatment. I would recommend she be evaluated by her regular veterinarian, and any necessary testing done. Good luck!

A lump near the shoulder could be an enlarged lymph node, an abscess, a cyst, a tumor, etc. I would recommend that you have Roscoe examined by a vet, especially since you have noticed a behavior change. The vet will do a thorough physical exam, and may want to collect a sample of cells from the lump to examine under the microscope. They may also recommend blood work or other diagnostics to see what could be going on.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. 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. Since he has not been drinking well, they would also be able to check if something else is also affecting him by checking into other possible concurrent issues such as gastroenteritis or pancreatitis for instance. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and best wishes!

Hi. I would take Bobo to the vet today an exam. They may do a needle aspirate which is sticking the lump with a needle to get a sample of cells to look at under the microscope. They're are just as many benign things it could be as scary ones. It may only be a lipoma or cyst. It might be a type of cancer but the sooner it is looked at the sooner it can be treated. Some tumors can be cured by surgical removal so it's best to have it assessed while still small. Best of luck to Bobo.

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!

This is likely a mass. Have it evaluated by your vet and tested to determine if this is something to be concerned about or not. Most of the time samples can be taken of any mass without any sedation needed. Typically non-firm masses are benign (non-cancerous); however it’s always best to have any mass that continues to grow, evaluated by your vet. I hope everything turns out ok for your pet Charlie. Best wishes and take care.

Aw poor Tottie! Without examining the lump is impossible to say if it is anything to be worried about. It also sounds like Tottie has an ear infection. I'd recommend taking Tottie to see your veterinarian so that her ears can be checked. Your vet can also check the lump and take a needle sample to determine if it is a problem. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Tottie's issues can be resolved quickly!