What is this painless lump on my senior dog's tail? Is it serious?

Question

Hello, We noticed my 14 year old Lhasa Apso / Poodle mix has developed this lump on his tail, we did not notice until his most recent grooming. He does not seem to be in pain from it but it looks very abnormal. He is in great health otherwise. Can you please tell me what this might be or if it requires immediate medical attention? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 14 years and 2 months old | 15 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Thank you for providing pictures of the lump on Skip's tail. It is possible, given his age, that he could have a malignant tumor causing the lump. It could also be a benign tumor. I would not rush him into an ER vet tonight, but I would have him seen by a vet tomorrow if possible for a fine needle aspirate. 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. Once the cause of the lump is found, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. I hope this helps :-)

What is this painless lump on my senior dog's tail? Is it serious?

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