why does my dog have a bump on his left side but it does not hurt when it is touched?

Question

I'm really worried about my dog if you could tell me why this is i would greatly appreciate it i am currently saving to take him to the vet thank you for the help!!!!!

Answer 1

Good that you are saving money for the vet, better get pet insurance.



Lumps and bumps can be benign or malignant, just by looking at it or feeling it no one can tell.



Some are painful, most are not. Saying that most dogs can be quite stoic and do not show pain.



A vet can do a fine needle aspiration and extract a few cells and check them under the microscope. That is probably the cheapest option.

Pros: cheap, immediate results

Cons: it can happen that there is a mixture of benign and malignant cells and the aspirate only got the benign ones. Also, in some cancers malignant cells can get into the needle canal while extracting the needle and then spread (I think this is not a concern for this lump though)



Another option would be to have the vet do a biopsy. That means that the vet takes a sample of the lump and sends it to a lab.

Pros: better chance to get a good combination of cells, lab can do more specific tests than the vet

Cons: Dog has to go under anesthesia and if the lump is malignant the dog has to have surgery again



The last option is to have the lump surgically removed.

Pros: with good margins the outlook is usually very good, if it has not spread yet

Cons: expensive, dog needs anesthesia.



If it was my dog I would probably go for a fine needle aspiration first and then decide the next step.



Dagmar

Answer 2

You don't say how old your dog is or how big the bump is but, as dogs get a bit older, some breeds develop bumps which are non cancerous cysts and tumors. They are above the skin and do not cause any pain to the dog. My dog first developed one on his hind left leg. I freaked and took him to the vet certain that it was cancer. My vet explained that it was just a cyst and not to worry. He also told me to expect to find more of them as time goes on. He has about 12 now. They don't hurt him but, the ones that are cysts can ooze a little bit of liquid either clear or green. I was told to put Hydrogen Peroxide on them once a day to dry them out. The others are tumors and there's nothing that can be done with those. Some of them are very small and a couple are about the size of a pea. They can be surgically removed but, they will eventually grow right back so, I think it's pointless to remove them when they will come back and they don't hurt my dog at all so, I don't see the point. It's just one of those things that happen and we just have to get use to it.

It wouldn't hurt to take him to the vet since this is his first one but, I bet the vet will tell you the same thing that I am telling you.

I hope this helps

Answer 3

In senior dogs it is common for them to develop sebaceous cyst. It will move around and feel like it has fluid inside. It is not maligned and it may stay the same size or it could get bigger. Sometimes the cyst will pop open and drain some really yucky stuff. It may appear to heal but it comes back.



I had a Mastiff that had five sebaceous cyst of various sizes. I had them removed, it is the only way to keep the cyst from returning in the same place but it doesn't mean the dog will not have more develop down the road in different places.



Normally if the cyst can be moved under the skin it is not malignant but if it is hard and stationary it could be a tumor. I suggest you have a vet. check it out ASAP.

Answer 4

It is important that you understand that your cat needs to be taken to the Vet immediately! This is like you having a large bump on your own rib that is pussing and bleeding and your mom yawns and says, "Can it wait 'till pay day?" PLEASE GET THE CAT TO THE VET. Something is seriously wrong and it could be infected! Log off line, take the cat to the vet! If you seriously love him as much as you say you do, you will put the charges on a credit card or borrow the money. This needs to be addressed right now, not tomorrow, not friday! NOW!

Answer 5

Older dogs and certain breeds sometimes get this. Take your dog to the vet, they will probably remove it with a simple surgery. My dog has had two of these, both of which were removed by surgery.

Answer 6

If it is large and black, outside the fur, it may be cancer. My German shepherd had it.



It you can't see it, it is nothing to worry about.