My dog has a lump — should I be worried?

Finding a lump on your dog can be alarming, but many lumps are benign. The key is not to guess — have every new lump assessed by a vet. You cannot tell whether a lump is cancerous by feeling it.

Common benign lumps

- Lipoma — soft, smooth, moveable fatty lump under the skin. Very common in middle-aged and older dogs, especially Labradors. Usually harmless but should still be confirmed by a vet.
- Sebaceous cyst — a blocked skin gland that forms a firm lump. May discharge a white or grey waxy material. Often benign but can become infected.
- Warts (viral papillomas) — rough, cauliflower-like growths most common in puppies or immunosuppressed dogs. Usually resolve on their own.
- Histiocytoma — a raised, red, button-like lump that appears rapidly in young dogs (under 3 years). Usually disappears within 3 months without treatment.
- Abscess — a painful, warm, soft lump filled with pus, often caused by a bite wound or foreign body like a grass seed.

Warning signs that a lump needs urgent assessment

- Rapid growth (doubling in size within a few weeks)
- Irregular shape, firm texture, or fixed to deeper tissue (won't move when you push it)
- Ulceration, bleeding, or discharge that is not white/waxy
- Located in a high-risk area: near the mammary glands (unspayed females), around the mouth or genitals, or under the armpit
- Dog is losing weight, lethargic, or off food alongside the lump

What the vet will do

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is usually the first step — a small needle draws a few cells from the lump for examination under a microscope. It is quick, cheap, and gives useful information without surgery. If results are inconclusive, a biopsy may be needed.

Never ignore a new lump. The earlier a cancer is identified, the more treatment options are available.