Lump on my dogs leg? - Update!

bestpud

I'm taking him to the vets in a short while but just wondered if anyone on here has had the same problem with their dog.

He has had a very small lump on his back leg, under the skin for a couple of years. It has never grown or caused him any issues so we've never had it looked at specifically. It has never been picked up as needing investigating when he's had general health checks either.

Anyway, it has grown over th last couple of weeks and in the last 48 hours, has doubled in size! It's now not much smaller than a golf ball and he's a Jack Russell.

It's fluidy when touched but is well under his skin, there's no spot or anything like that iyswim.

Like I said, he has an appointment this morning so I'm just interested in whether this is a common problem (he's 11, so no spring chicken!) If anyone has had a similar thing, how was it resolved? Because of his age (although he is fit and well otherwise), I'm a bit worried about him having surgery.

Thanks in advance - I'm getting quite worried about him now and hoping it will be something harmless.

walwin

Please don't worry too much at the moment, although I know that's easier said than done. You're doing the right thing by taking him to the vet. Hopefully it will just be a fatty cyst or similar.
If he does require surgery, although there is an increased risk due to his age, it doesn't mean it's high risk.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you both. Please let us know how he gets on.

Justie

we had one dog who got lumpy as she got older - never anything serious and none of them needed any intervention. The fact that it's growing though is a bit of a worry as they don't usually change much. It may be that he's got an infection in it which would need draining or antibiotics or it may need an op to sort it out. Your vet will be able to tell you more.

bestpud

Thanks for the replies.

The vet drained some fluid from it (looked like slightly watery blood) and is going to examine the cells under a microscope and get back to me. She said they would look to removing it if any cells were multiplying.

She said very little about it and I didn't like to ask (I had my dd with me and was trying to stay very chilled about it all) so I guess I just need to wait now.

JCR

Hi there - my golden retriever -age 2 and a bit - has a lump on his hindquarters. I have taken him to the vets 3 times with this lump. The first time she shaved the hair off and it revealed a slightly scabby lump which was on the surface and didn't seem to bother him. She gave me a course of antibiotics and we went back in 10 days - whereupon the lump was still there and still the same. Different vet this time, also didn't know what it was, said could take a biopsy but would need anaesthetic and therefore may as well take the lump away if he was going to go under. Advised that unless it got any bigger or bothered him not to worry.

Lump is still there and hasn't grown (I don't think), it's hard to feel as the hair grew back over the lump in a weird way. I am keeping an eye on it.

Hope your dog is ok and the lump turns out to be nothing sinister.

Justie

in a young dog then it's more unusual but as dogs get older little fatty lumps are very common and some dogs are just more prone to them than others.

Fluid isn't a bad thing bestpud as it explains why the 'lump' has grown and grown rapidly - if there'd been no fluid I'd have been more concerned. It's good that they're checking what's causing it though as it might be an infection which would need treatment or it might (but is unlikey to be) something more serious. Fingers crossed it's just one of those things and it'll be ok now.

bestpud

JCR - the vet just drew off some fluid with a syringe and put it on slides there and then - could they not do that with your dog instead of putting to sleep? There isn;t anything on his skin tough, it's right underneath the surface iykwim. The procedure didn;t seem to cause him any real bother though - he was a little bit indignant but didn't seem to be in any pain.

Justie - thanks, I hadn't looked at it from that point of view (the fluid that is). I'm glad they are checking it out too - I'd rather know one way or the other.

He had a large lump on his tail years ago but that came to a head and dh squeezed it (sorry to anyone eating their lunch - I'm terribly squeamish myself and am pulling faces just thinking about it!!!). It has refilled a couple of times over the years and he has never re-grown hair where it was but it has never bothered him as such. This one is different though, as there doesn't seem to be any sign of it being sqeezable.

Oh well, we'll see - no point worrying about it too much until we know I guess.

JCR

Bestpud - I don't know why they didn't do that, (stupidly I didn't think to suggest it either), but three different vets saw him, and not one of them offerred that method of testing it.

bestpud

JCR wrote: »

Bestpud - I don't know why they didn't do that, (stupidly I didn't think to suggest it either), but three different vets saw him, and not one of them offerred that method of testing it.

I guess there was a reason in your dog's case - especially if three vets said the same.

The vet said Scooby has a mast cell tumour but it is hopefully at a stage where removing it will be a cure. He is having the op next week and they will be able to tell us more after that. I've just looked it up on the internet and frightened myself - too much knowledge and all that!

Just hoping like mad that he will be ok now. :sad:

Anyone had experience of this in their dog? They're very common apparently, but more so in some breeds than others.

bestpud

Update!!!

He had his op two weeks ago today and is recovering very well. He had a 6" cut bless him (a lot on a Jack Russell's leg!)

We also got the lab results today and it looks as though it was contained in the lump and it was a low grade so hopefully he will be ok!

Thanks for the replies,

Bestpud

Penny_Watcher

Thanks for the update.

Hope the little fella is feeling better soon.