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My unspayed dog has hard blue lumps near her nipple. Is it serious?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My unspayed dog has developed three little blue hard lumps next to her nipple . They don’t seem to bother her.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Lotus Altholtz

Veterinarian, Board-Certified Lab Animal Medicine Specialist

Published on March 13th, 2019

She may have mammary cancer which is fairly common in unspayed dogs. Your vet can perform either a biopsy or a fine needle aspirate and cytology to confirm the nature of the mass. If it comes back as mammary cancer, full screening pre-operative bloodwork as well as chest radiographs to rule out metastasis to the lungs will likely be discussed. If chest rads show that cancer has already spread to her lungs, unfortunately surgical removal under anesthesia may not be practical. Good luck-

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on November 8th, 2021
That looks like a tumor that needs to be seen by your vet, especially since it is so close to the nipples/mammary gland, and is irregular in shape and irritated. I would have Ginger seen by your vet and a sample of the tumor taken (or it removed completely and sent to a lab) to determine the cell type and any additional care needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on November 6th, 2017
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am afraid that while this could be an extra unilateral nipple, it actually is most likely a cutaneous mass. This could be a benign or malignant growth. 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 am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on January 10th, 2018
This looks like a mammary gland tumor, quite advanced as well, you will need to take her to your vet ASAP, your vet will need to do a chest xray to make sure the tumor has not advanced to the lungs already, if the xray is clear your vet will recommend a surgery to have the tumor removed.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

What are the tiny lumps under my unspayed female dog's nipples?

What you are feeling are tumors (breast cancer); very common in dogs that are not spayed. They could be benign or malignant. I can't tell you that. You need to have them surgically removed and sent to a lab for histopathology. She should also be spayed as the same time as the masses are removed. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/mammary-cancer-in-dogs/ )

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My unspayed female dog has a hard breast lump. What is it?

It is difficult to tell what is going on with Panthera based on the picture alone. The lump in the picture almost looks wet, so I would be concerned about a potential cyst or infected gland. Since she is unspayed, I also worry about potential mammary cancer, which we see more commonly in intact females. It can present as firm masses under the mammary glands. Dogs can also get benign masses of the mammary tissue as well. The best course of action would be to take her to your regular vet to have them evaluate her. She may need a fine needle aspirate of the lump. This is when we take a sample of cells from the area and look at it under the microscope to try to determine what the underlying cause is. It is no more painful than a vaccine and can give a lot of information as to if anything further needs to be done for Panthera or not.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has a large mammary tumor. Could it be cancer or metastasis?

As she is unspayed it's very likely a primary tumor of the mammary gland, it's not possible to know if it has already sent metastases to other places in the body though. the recommendation is to get it removed surgically ASAP.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My unspayed female dog's nipple looks weird. Is it a lump or tumor?

I see that Jessabell isn't spayed. Unfortunately in unspayed females, mammary tumors are common and that is what could be causing her nipple to look weird. Mammary tumors in dogs have a 50% chance of being malignant, so I would recommend having her seen by a vet for it. 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 it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Should she have a mammary tumor and it's malignant, it will need to be removed surgically and local lymph nodes should be checked to see if it has been spread. I would have Jessabell seen by a vet tomorrow to have her nipple looked at so it can be treated as needed.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has a painful lump on her stomach near a nipple. What is it?

Hi. This is a very big mass. If it is firm and painful, this is concerning in an unspayed, older pet is cancer unfortunately. Besides a cancer, other possibilities include infection, cyst, lipoma, a benign mammary tumor, hernia, etc. She should be fully checked out and have the mass sampled to get an answer. The sooner the better in this case.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my unspayed dog have breast lumps and can't stand?

If she is not spayed the number one reason for swollen teats is mammary (breast) cancer. If she recently had puppies then it could be severe mastitis. Either way this is serious. Your vet cannot drain these. I have no idea what they would possibly be referring to. If this is cancer, they have to be surgically removed. Sometimes the cancer is benign. Sometimes it is malignant and will spread to other organs (mainly the lungs). Regardless, the only way to potentially cure this is surgery. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/mammary-tumors-in-dogs-malignant ) If it is mastitis, then she should respond to antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and warm compresses (or cabbage leaf compresses). ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/mastitis-in-dogs ) Please go back to your vet to discuss this or get a second opinion from another vet. This can be fatal.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has new firm lumps on breast and near vagina. Is it cancer?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! An appointment on Friday should be okay, as long as you do not notice the mass bleeding or any discharge coming from the nipple. While these growths may be cancerous, they may also be an infection. Your vet can recommend a fine needle aspirate, which is a procedure that takes a small needle to collect a number of cells that can be looked at under a microscope to determine what the mass is. They may also recommend surgery, along with blood-work and x-rays to make sure that there is no spread or compromise of Juliette's organs. I hope all is well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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