Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My 8-year-old Lab has soft, painful lumps and is lethargic. What to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 7 years and 9 months old | 184 lbs

My Best friend has lumps which to me are soft half a golfball in size. His name is Drake and he is 8 yrs old and is a Labrador retriever, and is the best friend you could ever have!! They didn't appear to be painful until today. They populate around shoulders and towards the bottom of his lungs near hind legs. He's acting very lethargic . Please help me he's my best friend!!!

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 15th, 2020

Poor Drake. These lumps could be lypomas or growths (benign or 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.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Wondering what kind of bump this is? 12 year old lab mix.
It may be a benign growth, but I cannot make a diagnosis without seeing him in person. There is always a chance any lump could be malignant in dogs. 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My miniature schnauzer/ brusselngriffin mix is 11 yrs old. Recently she had a small marble sized lump on her abdomen. After she was groomed i have now counted roughly 17 hard nodules all over her body. 2 very large ones on her trunk. Her temp axilla
i am afraid these could be benign or malignant tumors. Since Nealy is an older dog, this is not uncommon. Lipomas (fatty tumors, usually benign, they can actually be hard) or mast cell tumors come to mind when looking at your photos. It could also be a very extreme allergic reaction to possibly a shampoo at the groomers. 1) do not panic 2) make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam. He will likely want to take a so-called FNA (Fine Needle Biopsy) where he takes a small amount of tissue through an injection needle, puts this on a glass plate and looks at it under the microscope. This will give your vet an idea what he is dealing with. He may also send this material to a lab to be examined. Once you and dyour veterinarian know what type of mass you are dealing with , you can discuss treatment plans.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I found this on my dog and I don't know what it is. He is acting very lethargic and hasn't eating very much today. What is that?
That appears to be a lump on Dusty, and it could be benign or malignant. There is a possibility that if this lump is malignant, that it could be causing him to be lethargic and not eat much. The lethargy and anorexia could be completely unrelated to the lump. 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 recommend calling your vet to have an appointment made for him in the next couple of days to have this lump checked out, as well as his anorexia and lethargy. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
This bump has been on my Labs neck for about 4 months, doesn’t seem to cause his discomfort unless I try to touch it. It has been growing
This lump on Max could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. It is concerning that it has been growing, and this is definitely something that needs to be seen by a 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. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. I would call Max's vet first thing in the morning to get an appointment for him. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I found a lump, it doesn't hurt him to have it touched. It's not really soft nor does it move. He is walking, eat, drinking, and behaving normally. He got bit by a dog on the inside of the same leg a year ago but the lump is on the outside. Should I
This can be a benign lump, or it could be a lipoma or cyst. 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. I'd give his vet a call tomorrow to make him an appointment. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have an 8 year old, male lab. In the past two weeks I have notice a rather large, soft bubble, in his upper breast bone, sternum, neck, It fits in my hand. Today I have noticed he is sore/sensitive in his neck, close to his ear. He is active, eats
Hello, sorry to hear about Pounder. It sounds as though that lump may be a fatty tumor especially if it is not painful, firm, or hot to the touch. Other causes may include a malignant tumor which may need to be further assessed. The best way to obtain a diagnosis on benign vs a malignant mass is to get a needle aspirate of it and look at the cells under a microscope. Sometimes, a biopsy may also be necessary to obtain a diagnosis. The mass may be associated with his ear sensitivity, although, him being a lab, I would be suspicious of a separate issue with his ear such as an ear infection. Since Pounder is otherwise eating and drinking ok, I would recommend scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian at your best convenience to have his mass and ears looked at. Unfortunately, Labs are notorious for getting cancer and I would not recommend just monitoring this mass. Best of luck and hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I was petting my dog last night and found a bump. Is pretty hard and moves around easily what are the chances its just a fatty tumor and not cancer on an 8 year old black lab?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I work with cancer daily and I do think there is a good chance that it is in fact a benign fatty tumor as older labs get those frequently. However, it could also be something malignant such as a mast cell tumor, sarcoma, among others. This is most of the time differentiated with a test called a fine needle aspirate which is easy, cheap and pain-free. Sometimes, a biopsy is required for a diagnosis. Have Laya evaluated by your veterinarian to have this test performed to try to sort out what the diagnosis is so that the best course of action can be determined. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 7 year old lab has a big lump on his side(near his shoulder). It's not hard, it's kind of squishy. It's not painful for him, and he's not sick. Can you tell me what you think it might be? .
This could be a hematoma, a cyst or a tumor. The most common tumors in this location would be a fatty tumor, which usually is benign. However the only way to determine what kind of mass this is is to take Rocky to your veterinarian for an exam. Your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 11yr old lab mix has a mass larger then my fist on his side. It had soft fluid for a while now hard and getting larger. It doesnt bother him. Should i have him see a vet
This could be a seroma from an injury, a cyst, abscess or a tumor. Cysts and abscesses need to be drained by a vet. If your vet suspects a tumor, he will do a fine needle aspirate to determine whether it is a harmless lipoma, which does not need to be removed unless it is ulcerating or bothers the dog due to its location or size, or another tumor that needs to be removed. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam of the mass.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Cain has bumps on him and alot of large hard lumps all over I'm discovering his back legs and hips hurt him really bad and very thirstyhes 10 and I'm scared it is cancer
These lumps needs to be checked and analysed as there are many conditions and types of tumors that could look like that. take Cain to the vet, they will perform a fine needle aspiration on the growths and send it to the lab for analysis. when the result comes, the vet will advise what needs to be done according to the diagnosis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Supplies Dog Food Dog Toys Dog Health & Wellness Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Dog Treats & Chews Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog Thyroid Medication & Hormone Care Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Dog Blood Pressure Medication DOG by Dr Lisa Amlodipine Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Deramaxx Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Lactulose Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Prednisone Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Lactated Ringers Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Lactulose Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Lantus Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Deramaxx Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Lactated Ringers Electrolytes for Dogs
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored