Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

What is this dangly growth on my dog's nipple? Should I worry?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Boxer | Male | neutered | 4 years old | 60 lbs

My 4 year old boxer has a dangly growth on his nipple...what might it be

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on October 7th, 2017

This growth needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Lucky to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Emily, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 18th, 2017

    This could be of a benign skin growth, a cyst, or something more concerning would be a skin melanoma which can be a more aggressive skin tumor. Your options are to monitor this for any change in size, discharge, bleeding, or pain. Or you could have your veterinarian do an exam on Dink and discuss removing it now. If you decide to monitor it and it changes at all then you could have your veterinarian become involved. If it does not change in size or appearance it is more likely to be benign. However if it does change in size I'd be more concerned about something more serious and it needs to be removed.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 18th, 2018

    Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Chloe! I would recommend having your Vet examined the nipple mass and personally I would remove it for biopsy. It could be benign (hyperplasia) or cancerous (carcinoma). It is possible it could become traumatized and bleed and then become infected. I wish you the best!

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a crusty, black scab-like growth on one of his nipples. Any idea what this is?
This growth needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Fred to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a male american bulldog 12 years old with 1 large nipple that is getting bigger. Can it be removed and hiw?
That looks like a growth, not a nipple. In a dog Rocco's age, there is always a chance any growth can be malignant and if it is, it does need to be removed surgically. 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 would give his vet a call to make him an appointment to be seen in the next couple of days. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My Boxer has a lump under his neck and I would like to know what it could possibly be?
This lump needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Jj to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi u have found a growth lump on my dogs belly next to her nipple and am just worrid it's harmful to her, I have never seen it on her before, it don't feel hard but kind of feels like a human nipple
This lump needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Annie to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I just saw this from my dog and I am worried. Please tell me that this can shrink
This lump needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take him to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Our 3 year old has a pencil eraser sized growth near her nipple ... it is black, raised and slightly scaley. Anything to worry about?
This could be of a benign skin growth, a cyst, or something more concerning would be a skin melanoma which can be a more aggressive skin tumor. Your options are to monitor this for any change in size, discharge, bleeding, or pain. Or you could have your veterinarian do an exam on Dink and discuss removing it now. If you decide to monitor it and it changes at all then you could have your veterinarian become involved. If it does not change in size or appearance it is more likely to be benign. However if it does change in size I'd be more concerned about something more serious and it needs to be removed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a growth on her nipple, vet said not to worry, since then it has grown to the size of a golf ball, dont know what to do
Although it may look benign, 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. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Do you know what this is
This could be a skin growth. this growth needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Bentley to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Dahlia has a small growth near her breast. Looks gray and sometimes red. Blood boil blister a cyst?
This growth needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Dahlia to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My chiweenie has a red bump on his left side that continues to get larger over the last few weeks and even days...
Any bump needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors and infections that could look like that. take Luke to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growth and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
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