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My dog has a red bump on her lip that's growing. Is it serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 1 year old | 45 lbs

There is a hard red bump on the side of my dogs bottom lip. It started off small and white so i gave it some time to go away and it only got bigger and now i'm concerned. I just want to know if it's something serious that should be checked out or if it's a normal thing that happens? She's a one year old boxer/pit mix.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Mariya Gugel, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 30th, 2017

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Kona does have what appears to be a small, round, red and slightly bloody bump on her lip margin. This can be caused by an infection, which may have resulted from a small cut. While Kona is pretty young, it is possible that the bump is a small tumor, and it can be removed to determine if it is benign (not harmful) or malignant (likely to spread). It is concerning that the bump has gotten bigger over time, so I recommend having her seen by a vet. You can get her an E-collar or "cone" to prevent her from scratching or rubbing the area. I hope this helps!

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4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 21st, 2018

    I am sorry to hear about Rocky! Your information doesn't mention Rocky's age. If he is a young dog, under 2 years old, it is possible this is a growth called a histiocytoma http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1676 . These growths do eventually resolve on their own but it can take months and oftentimes surgical removal is easier especially if the dog is traumatizing the area. In an older dog we would be more concerned about potential for cancerous growths such as mast cell tumors. I would recommend you bring Rocky in to his vet to examine the growth. They may recommend a cytology be done of the mass which could involve pressing a microscope slide against the lesion or inserting a needle into the mass to collect cells to help identify the growth and determine the best treatment. In the meantime, if Rocky is bothering the growth you may need to put an e-collar on him to prevent self-trauma. Best of luck to you and Rocky!

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