Why does my senior dog's breast lump fluctuate and reappear?

Question

I have a 16year old pooch, last year we found a lump under her breast and took her to the vet; when we got there, the lump just disappeared. Then a couple weeks later came back. She still has it now but it tends to fluctuate in size. What could be the cause of that? She's 16 years old and in still very much fit for her age, but the thought of putting a 16 year old under anaesthetic even for a biopsy is scary. She's spayed and never had pups in her life. She's a small breed. What could this be? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 15 years and 5 months old | 25 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

It could be Roxy has a cyst. It could be rupturing internally, causing it to fluctuate in size. I would have her seen by a vet for it again. 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 hope this helps!

Why does my senior dog's breast lump fluctuate and reappear?

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