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My senior dog has a large bump on her back. Is it a cyst or cancer?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 13 years and 9 months old | 65 lbs

My dog being around 134 years of age has grown a large bump on her back its on the skin rather than under it and it seems to me that it could be a cyst or cancer (warning might be gross to look at)

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 1st, 2018

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Pearl. Unfortunately there isn't a picture attached to your post, so I can't see the lump, but I can make a few guesses as to what it could be. It could be a cyst, but it could also be a lipoma, benign tumor, or malignant tumor. In a senior dog, there is always a chance 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'd give her vet a call this weekend or first thing Monday to make her an appointment. Best of luck.

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