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My dog's elbow lump is growing, inflamed, and he keeps licking it. Is it cancer?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 9 years and 1 month old | 55 lbs

Hello my dog developed what I thought was a skin tag about 8 months ago on his elbow. It has got much larger and is inflamed because he continues to lick it. I'm so worried. Does this look malignant?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on September 23rd, 2020

Sam is at an age where a lump could be malignant, and I don't like the way this looks in your picture. I cannot diagnose malignancy from a picture, however. 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 in the morning to make him an appointment. Best of luck.

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5Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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