My older dog has a small, hard, black lump. What should I do?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 8 years and 11 months old | 150 lbs
My 9 year old German Shepherd has a small pea sized hard black lump. It doesn't seem to bother him and he is in good shape.... other than being overweight.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 23rd, 2019
This lump on Sam could be benign or malignant. In an older 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. Give his vet a call tomorrow to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 8th, 2018
Without seeing Jackie in person and doing tests on the lump, there is no way I can say if it's cancerous or benign. In an older dog, there is always a chance a lump could be cancerous. 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 today to make him an appointment. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on December 28th, 2020
This may just be a benign growth but in a dog Bear's age, there is a chance any lump is 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. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment. Best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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