What's this hard lump on my dog's side that feels like a broken rib?

Question

My small toy breed dog has a hard lump on her side. Feels like a broken rib on lower rib. Pet's info: Dog | English Toy Terrier | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 5 months old | 6.3 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

Dogs commonly have their last rib as a "floating rib". That means that there isn't any cartilage that connects it to the sternum. What that means is that the last rib (or sometimes 2) will appear to end suddenly and you can feel a hard bump on their side at the bottom of their rib cage. This can be on just one side or both. Often we don't notice it until they are a little older even though it has always been there. If Lunar is painful, I would certainly recommend having your veterinarian examine him. A floating rib should never be painful. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

What's this hard lump on my dog's side that feels like a broken rib?

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