Dog's lump swollen since vet gave the all clear

zaksmum

My dog Lucy who's nearly 11 has had a lump the size of a grape under her bottom jaw for a couple of months. I took her to the vet to have it looked at on Thursday last and the vet thought it was just a fatty lump or benign cyst.

She did a screen for MAST cancerous cells by needle aspiration from the lump which was negative. So the advice was either have the lump removed or just leave it alone since it's not bothering Lucy.

Since then, the lump has swollen and changed from a pearly pink colour to a purple mottled colour.

I'm hoping this is only because the lump was messed with by the vet - but do I need to take Lucy back, just in case?

krlyr

Why not phone your vet and ask?

Living_proof

Got the t-shirt on this. As long as you have been reassured it's not sinister, make a paste of epsom salts and apply. It worked in Archie's case. Don't think it would do any harm anyway, so good luck!

zaksmum

Living_proof wrote: »

Got the t-shirt on this. As long as you have been reassured it's not sinister, make a paste of epsom salts and apply. It worked in Archie's case. Don't think it would do any harm anyway, so good luck!

Did it shrink Archie's lump?

ka7e

It sounds as though the biopsy needle has introduced an infection and maybe an abscess has formed. If it bursts it will be pretty yuk and Lucy will need antibiotics. If it is an infected cyst you often need to have the cyst membrane removed as it can refill and the whole thing start up again.

teddysmum

I'd ring the vet for advice. Perhaps, even email a photo.

zaksmum

Ok I rang the vet this morning. She says in all probability there is bruising within the lump due to the small amount of bleeding the needle will have caused.

It wasn't a small amount - Lucy was dripping blood all over the floor - but the vet said the discolouration should go by this next weekend and if not to call back.

meritaten

oh poor lucy! I would try the Epsom salts or just bathe in sea salt and water. in a human I would have recommended an application of honey which is a natural antibiotic - but have no idea if dogs would be able to tolerate this? perhaps others would know?

zaksmum

Thanks meritaten. Hopefully the vet will be right and it's just bruising and swelling caused by the lump being fiddled with. The vet had to insert the needle three separate times to get the fluid out for testing - first there was not enough taken out, then they needed to go deeper and finally had what they needed for the testing

meritaten

awwww poor thing!
but, at least it was nothing sinister! some comfort in that!
Dogs are tough creatures and usually heal well. I hope this clears up and she is better soon!