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My dog has a hard, swollen lump on her neck. What could it be?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | 90 lbs

hello, recently my dog has had a wierd swollen area on her neck. it came up over night and has gotten more swollen since it has come up. it came up wednesday morning and it is now saturday evening and has not gotten any better. it appears to be very hard and all on her neck and starting to reach her cheeks. i was hoping that you could possibly give me some insight on what this could be and how we can fix it? thank you

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 29th, 2017

Wow, poor Roxy is quite swollen! It could be her lymph nodes that are swollen, and this could be caused by a severe infection or lymphoma. She has to see a vet as soon as possible for this, especially because it is getting more swollen. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on the swellings if it is her lymph nodes. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lymph nodes 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. Once a diagnosis is made, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. Please bring her into a vet as soon as possible.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 22nd, 2018

    I see what you mean about the lump on the side of your dog's neck. This could be an enlarged lymph node, a severe dental problem, or an enlarged salivary gland to name a few things. It is concerning that he's having some trouble swallowing, and that could affect his ability to eat. I would have him seen by a vet on Monday for this problem. In the meantime, keep a close eye on him. If this lump gets larger, he has trouble eating or swallowing, or the lump appears to bother him, I would take him into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see him this weekend. I hope this helps!

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