I've Found a Lump on My Dog: What Now?

Call your vet now if

• The lump has appeared suddenly or is growing quickly over days
• It is bleeding, oozing or has broken open
• It is hot, very painful or your dog won't let you touch it
• There is a swelling of the face, mouth or throat, or your dog is having trouble breathing or swallowing
• Your dog has a swollen belly, especially if they are restless, retching or seem unwell
• The lump comes with other signs, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting or lameness

First, take a breath

Finding a lump on your dog can be frightening. It is completely understandable to worry. The reassuring thing is that many lumps are harmless, such as fatty lumps, cysts, warts or small skin growths. Some are caused by an insect bite, an injection or a minor injury.

However, some lumps are more serious, and they can feel exactly the same as harmless ones. Even experienced vets cannot reliably tell what a lump is just by touching it. That is why the safest approach is simple: every new lump should be checked by your vet.

What to note before your appointment

Making a few notes can really help your vet, and gives you a record to compare against later.

• Location. Where exactly is it? For example, "left side of the chest, just behind the elbow". A quick sketch or a photo of the whole area can help you find it again.
• Size. Measure it with a ruler or tape measure if you can. Alternatively, take a clear photo with a coin next to it for scale.
• Date. Write down when you first noticed it.
• Feel. Is it soft or firm? Does it move freely under the skin, or does it feel fixed in place?
• Appearance. Is the skin over it normal, red, hairless, dark or broken?
• Your dog's behaviour. Do they seem bothered by it, lick it or react when it is touched?

If you use Petopedia to keep a log of your dog's health, it can be a handy place to record the size, location and date with a photo, so you can see at a glance whether anything has changed.

Which lumps are more urgent

All new lumps deserve a check, but some need to be seen sooner rather than later. Contact your vet promptly if a lump:

• Grows, even slowly, over weeks
• Changes in shape, colour, texture or firmness
• Bleeds or develops a sore or scab on its surface
• Appears quickly, seemingly overnight
• Comes back after being removed
• Is fixed firmly to the tissue underneath rather than moving freely

It is also worth mentioning if your dog has several new lumps, or if they have had lumps checked in the past, as this history is useful for your vet.

What your vet may do

At the appointment, your vet will examine the lump and the rest of your dog, including checking the lymph nodes, which can sometimes be felt as small swellings under the jaw, in front of the shoulders and behind the knees.

To find out what the lump is, they will often suggest taking a small sample. This is commonly done with a fine needle, which collects a few cells to look at under a microscope. Many dogs tolerate this well while awake, and it is usually quick. The sample may be looked at in the practice or sent to a laboratory.

Sometimes a needle sample does not give a clear answer, and your vet may suggest a biopsy, where a small piece of tissue is removed, usually under sedation or anaesthetic. In some cases they may recommend removing the whole lump.

Your vet will talk you through the options and what they recommend for your dog. Don't be afraid to ask questions, such as what the results might mean, what happens next and whether to keep monitoring.

"Let's keep an eye on it"

Sometimes, after examining a lump and perhaps taking a sample, your vet may suggest monitoring it. If so, ask:

• How often should I check it?
• What changes should make me call you?
• When should we recheck it together?

Keep measuring and photographing the lump on a regular schedule so that any change is easy to spot. Changes can be very gradual and hard to notice by memory alone.

Doing regular hands-on checks

Regular checks help you find lumps early, when they are often easier to deal with. Once a month is a good routine, and older dogs may benefit from more frequent checks. It can easily be part of a grooming session or a cuddle on the sofa.

1. Choose a calm time when your dog is relaxed.
2. Run your hands slowly over your dog's whole body, using gentle pressure.
3. Start at the head and work back: face, lips, ears and neck, then shoulders, chest, legs and paws.
4. Check the belly, the area between the back legs, under the tail and along the tail itself.
5. Part the fur in places to look at the skin, especially in thick-coated dogs.
6. Look inside the mouth if your dog is comfortable with it, as lumps can occur on the gums too.

Getting to know what is normal for your dog makes it much easier to notice when something has changed. Our grooming basics guide has more tips for making handling a positive experience, and caring for a senior dog covers health checks for older dogs.

What not to do

• Don't wait to see if it goes away before getting a new lump checked.
• Don't squeeze, pop or try to drain a lump. This can cause pain, infection or, with some types of lump, a reaction.
• Don't rely on photos online to work out what it might be. Many lumps look alike.

The takeaway

Finding a lump is worrying, but it is also a chance to act early. Most lumps are not serious, yet only your vet can tell which ones are. Note the size, location and date, take a photo next to a coin, and book an appointment. Lumps that grow, change, bleed or appear quickly should be seen sooner. If you are not sure how urgent something is, our guide to signs your pet needs a vet can help.