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My senior dog has a recurring neck lump. Is it just a fatty tumor?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

MY 10 YEAR OLD SHIH TZU HAS A LARGE LUMP THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL HANGING UNDER HIS NECK. IT HAS WENT AWAY AND NOW HAS COME BACK. EVERY ONE KEEPS SAYING THAT IT IS JUST A FATTY TUMOR BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED. HE ACTS LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG AND EATS LIKE A HORSE. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on August 13th, 2018

Yes, I would be concerned. Without seeing a vet, you can't know for sure if this lump is a lipoma. In a 10 year old dog, there is always a concern that any lump could be malignant. 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 call the vet today to make an appointment for him to be seen. I hope this helps!

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6Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Amber Da Silva, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 3rd, 2017

    From the pictures, it looks like the lumps are on her neck right below her jaw. There are lymph nodes in this area, but it could also be a different kind of growth. I would strongly recommend taking her to a veterinarian to have them evaluated. They will most likely do a test called a fine needle aspirate. This is where they will insert a small needle into the lump and draw out some of the tissue inside and then look at it under a microscope. This will be done regardless if it is a lymph node or another kind of lump. You can also try and feel if there are other lymph nodes that are enlarged. The other areas of the body where you can normally feel lymph nodes are in front of the shoulder blades and behind the knees. If all the lymph nodes are enlarged, I would suspect either lymphoma or a widespread infection. If only the lymph nodes under the jaw are enlarged, it could be a local infection (like if she has severe dental disease or another infection involving her face, head or neck).

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