Uh-Oh a Lump!!

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

well i week and a half ago i was petting Jack (he finally lost his winter coat around that time) and i noticed a lump on his shoulder (his left side) it feels like an almond under his skin. It doesn't seem to hurt him when i touch it, and i cant move it around but it isn't completely fixed to the muscle it feels like its Right under the skin. Its sort of hard too. I am worried of course i never noticed it before and when i first found it i figured it was a bad mosquito bite. but its been almost two full weeks since i found it (it could have been there before and i didn't notice) and its still there. So i was wondering if this is something i should really be concerned about and how long i should wait before i take him into the vet. Am i jumping ahead of myself here? Jack doesn't seem to be acting different. He just got his kennel cough thing up his nose and rabies shot two weeks or so ago but other than that nothing is new. his diet and exercise is the same. Anyhow, i thought id ask all of you for any insight. Thanks!!!:(

[tanza]

Is the lump anyplace near where the rabies shot was given?… And how old is Jack?.... With age they can and do get fatty tumors and should be checked to make sure they are not anything more serious... and that the Vet does with a needle biospy done right in the office... only takes a couple of minutes.. my OJ has many now at almost 16... and a couple of years ago I have 3 taken off... but now he has about 4 or 5... and since they are not bothering him, not into surgery at his age..

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

No. his rabbies shot was given to him on the right shoulder area. the lump is on the left. He is about five or six (rescue so im not really sure) Well i hope thats what it is. I guess i should take him to the vet as soon as i can then…

[nobarkus]

Mine is 13-1/2 has many of those almond size hard lumps. Many fat bumps too. You could take him in if looks like it's growing or just have him checked for ease of mind.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

Would he have those at five, is that to young?

[nobarkus]

They can start to get them.

[tanza]

@Capt_Jack_our_Basenji:

Would he have those at five, is that to young?

Nope not to young…. and always best to have it checked out...

[nala121498]

I would have it checked out to be on the safe side. Nala has a few too and hers started a few years ago (she's 8) and all have been fine. I was told by another B owner (but I'm not sure if it's true) that B's are known for "lumps and bumps". Keep us posted.

[tanza]

@nala121498:

I would have it checked out to be on the safe side. Nala has a few too and hers started a few years ago (she's 8) and all have been fine. I was told by another B owner (but I'm not sure if it's true) that B's are known for "lumps and bumps". Keep us posted.

No more then other breeds as far as lumps go… remember however that hairy dogs unless the owners really "feel" their dogs might miss them.. short haired dogs it is pretty obvious

[Mantis]

Caesar has had a few infected pores that felt like cysts. I used warm wash cloths and would massage the area. He never showed pain or discomfort from it. He had one for a good 2 months before I could express it. It was about the size of a dime.

[dmcarty]

Someone once gave me this rule of thumb - if you can slid your fingers under the lump and it's not attached - it's most likely a fatty cyst. If you cannot - that's another story. I'm not talking about the infected pore type cyst or the wart looking kind of things.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

thanks so much for the advise!!

[BDawg]

I thought Lexi has an almond shaped lump– I felt stupid when my hubby pointed out that it was her microchip!! Duh. Miles, however, actually has three lumps-- one is under his arm pit. We were told by Banfield that we should do surgery and then have them biopsied, but we are going to get a second opinion because they feel like fatty cysts to me and I would think the protocol would not be operate first... instead aspirate, send specimens to a lab, and then determine if they're benign...

[Quercus]

@BDawg1005:

I thought Lexi has an almond shaped lump– I felt stupid when my hubby pointed out that it was her microchip!! Duh. Miles, however, actually has three lumps-- one is under his arm pit. We were told by Banfield that we should do surgery and then have them biopsied, but we are going to get a second opinion because they feel like fatty cysts to me and I would think the protocol would not be operate first... instead aspirate, send specimens to a lab, and then determine if they're benign...

Regarding the armpit lumps, and fatty cysts: Querk had a few of these, and yes, our vet felt them, said the felt like "not tumors" but then she aspirated them. She said all are benign, but we could remove them next time he was under, which is what we did. I definitely wouldn't jump to surgery.