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What's this hard lump under my Shih Tzu's shoulder after infection?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | neutered | 2 years and 11 months old

My three your old shih tzu has a lump under his right shoulder. It is hard and under the skin. He had an infection 3 months ago which required steroids and various antibiotics to clear up. Lasted about 2 weeks but had been very well since. Ver seemed slightly concerned but said to monitor it and see how fast it grows.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 14th, 2017

The only way to know the cause of the lump is to do a needle aspirate or biopsy. A needle aspirate is a very easy procedure that requires no sedation. A small needle is inserted into the lump, aspirated, and then the cells are examined under a microscope. You could ask your vet if he/she can do an aspirate to determine the cause, especially if you do notice any changes.

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