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My yorkie has a swollen groin lump, restless, panting. Is it a hernia?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Male | neutered | 6 lbs

My yorkie has a mass or what looks to be a swollen gland near his penis that enlarged today. He is restless and can't be still longer than a few minutes. He is also panting more that normal. He seems to be more comfortable when laying him on his back. Help. Please.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Justin Plunk, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 6th, 2018

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Brodie appears to have an abdominal hernia or some kind of mass. As a hernia is a possibility and he is uncomfortable, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian tonight on an emergent basis to assess and address the source of discomfort. If it is a hernia, intestines can get trapped in it and effectively cause an obstruction which would need immediate surgery to minimize risk of the intestines losing blood flow and dying off. Even if it is not a hernia, his discomfort alone is concerning enough to have him seen to help him be more comfortable. Usually, x-rays and/or ultrasound are needed to assess things like this, then further diagnostics and a treatment plan can be made. I hope this helps and that Brodie gets better soon!

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    Answered By Elva Ma DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hello, and thank you for your question. This looks very concerning for an inguinal hernia, which occurs when the abdominal contents protrude through the inguinal canal. Another possibility would be a localized abscess or tumour. In any case, it is important to get him to the vet as soon as possible. If it is an inguinal hernia, organs such as the intestines or bladder can get entrapped and lose their blood supply. Treatment for a hernia would be surgery to repair the hole and replace the abdominal contents back into the abdomen. If it is a mass, the vet may request a fine needle aspirate to check the composition of the mass before recommending next steps. I hope this helps, and that Brodie feels better soon.

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