My dog has a lump on his side he keeps licking. Is it serious?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | neutered | 74 lbs
My dog has this lump on his right side that he is continuously licking. He does have a skin condition, where he has black dandruff.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on July 6th, 2019
That looks ulcerated. This could be a benign lump, but it 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 Buddy's vet a call to make him an appointment, and put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking it. You can get one from a pet store. Best of luck.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on February 18th, 2017
Poor Shyle! This lump could be a cyst, abscess, benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. 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 it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I would have Shyle seen by a vet on Monday to have this lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 1st, 2017
This bump on Abby could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or potentially a malignant tumor, which is always a possibility in a senior dog. Any suspicious bumps 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 bump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I would have Abby seen by a vet tomorrow to get the lump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated if needed. It may need to be removed surgically depending on the diagnosis, but the vet can make that determination.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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