Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

My dog has a changing lump that doesn't bother him. Vet now?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund | Male | unneutered | 9 years and 5 months old | 8 lbs

My 9 year old mini dachshund had a small hard lump on his hip/back. After about a week it got softer, a little bigger and all his fur turned gray on the spot. It doesn't seem to bother him at all. Should I rush him to his vet or wait till his appointment in May?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 27th, 2017

I would definitely have Dexter seen by a vet tomorrow and not wait until May. This lump could be a cyst, an abscess, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. 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 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. The vet can examine and diagnose the lump, and then can discuss treatment options with you.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on July 26th, 2020

    Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Fred and for providing a picture, it's very helpful. This looks like a benign growth. 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 his vet a call in the morning to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 5th, 2017

    The diagnosis should be confirmed first before deciding the best course of action. This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Differentials include skin cysts, infections, benign or more sinister type of tumors. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please post a picture of the mass on the forum to have more specific answers from us.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I found a lump, it doesn't hurt him to have it touched. It's not really soft nor does it move. He is walking, eat, drinking, and behaving normally. He got bit by a dog on the inside of the same leg a year ago but the lump is on the outside. Should I
This can be a benign lump, or it could be a lipoma or cyst. 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. I'd give his vet a call tomorrow to make him an appointment. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 11yr old lab mix has a mass larger then my fist on his side. It had soft fluid for a while now hard and getting larger. It doesnt bother him. Should i have him see a vet
This could be a seroma from an injury, a cyst, abscess or a tumor. Cysts and abscesses need to be drained by a vet. If your vet suspects a tumor, he will do a fine needle aspirate to determine whether it is a harmless lipoma, which does not need to be removed unless it is ulcerating or bothers the dog due to its location or size, or another tumor that needs to be removed. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam of the mass.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Wondering what kind of bump this is? 12 year old lab mix.
It may be a benign growth, but I cannot make a diagnosis without seeing him in person. There is always a chance any lump could be malignant in dogs. 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 his vet a call to make him an appointment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has this hard brown solid lump under her chin its nickel size. What could it be?
Thank you for including pictures of DesaRay's lump! This lump could unfortunately be a malignant tumor, which can be common in senior dogs. It could also be a benign tumor. 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 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. I would have DesaRay seen by a vet tomorrow to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can treated as needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, I had noticed a rather large (10 p) sized raised lump on my 10 year old Labradoodle's right hip. As a vet what would be your next steps to examine this? Thank you very much in advance! Heidi
Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that you see a veterinarian. I will typically perform a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate when a dog develops a new bump. I use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This helps me to diagnose the bump. It could be a benign growth that does not require treatment, a cancerous tumor that needs surgical removal or even an infection under the skin such as an abscess. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Large hard lump all red no pus or bleeding..about 2 inch lump
Unfortunately in a senior dog like Libby, there is always a chance this lump could be a malignant tumor. It could also be a benign tumor, but the only way to know for sure is to have her seen by a vet. 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 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. I would take Libby into the vet tomorrow to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Is something wrong here? My dog normally has a wilder bump there but it seems to have gotten bigger.
That is concerning, and in a dog Happy's age, that can be caused by something serious like a malignant tumor. 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 his vet a call to make him an appointment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Merlin has 2 lumps: 1. On the base of his throat/chest; 2. Left side near groin. He had one removed 9 years ago. Biopsy showed not cancer, but not benign. We are currently in Costa Rica, does he need to be seen right away or can we wait until we retu
Given Merlin's age, cancer is always a possibility, and it would be best if he is seen right away by a vet. 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 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. I would have him taken to a vet first thing in the morning to have these lumps diagnosed so the vet can decide a treatment course for him.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
my small dog has developed a blister like bump approx 10mm and 5mm high skin surrounding slightly darken ,, she wants to lick it all the time any suggestion .. one what it might be and how to heal it
This bump on Abby could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or potentially a malignant tumor, which is always a possibility in a senior dog. Any suspicious bumps 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 bump 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. I would have Abby seen by a vet tomorrow to get the lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated if needed. It may need to be removed surgically depending on the diagnosis, but the vet can make that determination.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
So my dog has a small bump on her lower left side of her back. It's about the size of a pinkie fingernail. It is firm not squishy. I noticed it about 6 maybe 8 months ago. It has not grown since I noticed it. It can be seen on her back in the light.
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. I'd give Roxy's vet a call in the morning to make her an appointment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored