My senior Lab has a growing lump after spay surgery. What is it?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My lab has a growth from just after her operation around 10 months ago for a hysterectomy started off small now it’s huge she is 10 years old named abby
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 23rd, 2017
Poor Abby! This is likely just a benign tumor but since it is growing I would have your vet take a look at it when they reopen next. I have seen some tumors that look benign that are actually cancerous. Your vet will be able to determine what type of tumor it is and whether or not it needs to be surgically removed. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on August 22nd, 2019
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, I have a 14 year old blue staff, who until we rescued her from her previous owner 6/7 years ago was neglected, misstreated, and heavily over bred. She has not been spayed as she has anxiety problems and we felt it would be too traumatic for he
Since the mass is growing, a visit to your veterinarian is recommended. An older, intact female is at higher risk of mammary gland tumors than a spayed female. A fine needle aspirate can be performed in the clinic to collect a sample for pathology. This may determine if the lump is a benign mass, infection or a malignant tumor.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 11yr old lab mix has a mass larger then my fist on his side. It had soft fluid for a while now hard and getting larger. It doesnt bother him. Should i have him see a vet
This could be a seroma from an injury, a cyst, abscess or a tumor. Cysts and abscesses need to be drained by a vet. If your vet suspects a tumor, he will do a fine needle aspirate to determine whether it is a harmless lipoma, which does not need to be removed unless it is ulcerating or bothers the dog due to its location or size, or another tumor that needs to be removed. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam of the mass.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a growth on her belly. It's been there for years. Recently it has started growing really fast. She is almost 12 years old. What could it be?
This growth on your dog could be a benign tumor or a malignant tumor. Any suspicious growth should be examined by a vet. The vet can do a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the growth to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's typically painless to the dog and relatively quick and easy to perform. I would have your dog seen by a vet on Monday to have the growth examined and diagnoses so it can be treated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My golden Labrador has a lump under her belly she is 13
I seee that Sam is not spayed. A lump on her abdomen could be a hernia , inflamed mammary gland, cyst, abscess or, more likely, a mammary tumor or a fatty tumor. A mammary tumor can be benign or malignant or mixed. It is usually best to have it removed, i.e. have all the glands removed on the side where the tumor is. However at 13 years of age, and depending on the size of the mass, your veterinarian may decide just to do a lumpectomy. Fatty tumors are usually benign and ,, unless they cause a problem, we usually leave them alone. I suggest you have Sam examined by your veterinarian. He may want to do a biopsy of the mass, or a fine needle aspirate ( where an injection needle is inserted into the mass and cell material is aspirated and examined under the microscope). In case of a mammary tumor he will also want to do chest x-rays to make sure there are no metastases in the lungs. Abscesses and cysts can be evacuated or lanced if necessary and a hernia can be fixed surgically .
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Maggie developed this round soft knot on her belly. Size is the size of a peach. It is kind of reddish in color? Her appetite is normal. It doesn't seem to be painful when I rub it. Any thoughts?
This lump on Maggie could be a cyst, an abscess, a lipoma, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Unfortunately in a senior lab, a malignant tumor is always a possibility. 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 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. I would have Maggie seen by a vet on Monday to have the lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated if needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my small dog has developed a blister like bump approx 10mm and 5mm high skin surrounding slightly darken ,, she wants to lick it all the time any suggestion .. one what it might be and how to heal it
This bump on Abby could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or potentially a malignant tumor, which is always a possibility in a senior dog. Any suspicious bumps 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 bump 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. I would have Abby seen by a vet tomorrow to get the lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated if needed. It may need to be removed surgically depending on the diagnosis, but the vet can make that determination.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Wondering what kind of bump this is? 12 year old lab mix.
It may be a benign growth, but I cannot make a diagnosis without seeing him in person. There is always a chance any lump could be malignant in dogs. 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. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Large hard lump all red no pus or bleeding..about 2 inch lump
Unfortunately in a senior dog like Libby, there is always a chance this lump could be a malignant tumor. It could also be a benign tumor, but the only way to know for sure is to have her seen by a vet. 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 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. I would take Libby into the vet tomorrow to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a lab/Shepard mix. She is 13 yrs old took her to her vet who ran a full work up an said she is in awesome health for being 13. She didnt know what the lump was but it is the size of a grapefruit. It is her left leg by her tail. The vet recomme
It could be that Lady has a cyst causing this lump. In a senior dog, it could also be a malignant tumor or a benign tumor. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. If your vet sent her to a surgeon, then I would suspect that your vet believes it needs to be removed. I'm sorry you felt this surgeon was only worried about money, so I'd suggest speaking to your vet about a referral to another surgeon to get this lump diagnosed and possibly removed. It sounds like it's quite large if it's grapefruit size, and if it continues to grow, it could affect her ability to walk. In addition, if it is malignant, it needs to be removed as soon as possible. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I was petting my dog last night and found a bump. Is pretty hard and moves around easily what are the chances its just a fatty tumor and not cancer on an 8 year old black lab?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I work with cancer daily and I do think there is a good chance that it is in fact a benign fatty tumor as older labs get those frequently. However, it could also be something malignant such as a mast cell tumor, sarcoma, among others. This is most of the time differentiated with a test called a fine needle aspirate which is easy, cheap and pain-free. Sometimes, a biopsy is required for a diagnosis. Have Laya evaluated by your veterinarian to have this test performed to try to sort out what the diagnosis is so that the best course of action can be determined. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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