Poor Moog has a huge lump on the top of her shoulder. It's a bit bigger than a tennis ball, quite soft and fluidy but has been getting harder over the last couple of days, it seems to be just under the skin (it jiggles about when she runs!). Doesn't seem to be causing her much pain but she is a tough old stick so may just not be showing it, she lets us handle it OK. She was jumped by another dog last Friday - couldn't spot any injuries when we checked her over, but then this Friday this lump just popped up. Our first thought was an infection from a puncture wound we'd missed, so off to the vets, he found a scab in the area consistent with a puncture, was fairly sure it wasn't an abscess, temperature only slightly raised (101.8), so four day course of antibiotics, which she is half way through now. I'm not expecting a miraculous shrinkage or anything at this stage, but it seems very localised - like a bubble under the skin. The vet did suggest that the scab may turn out to be a red herring and unconnected to the swelling - so has anyone got any idea what else could produce a lump like this? I'm hoping it'll start to go down over the next few days, but, well, you just worry don't you! Not sure how long to give it before going back for another look, I've not had a lumpy dog before, so any hints from anyone who has please? She looks very comical with her 'goitre', poor thing!

Hi Jenna..Know exactly where your coming from, you do worry!  Not so long ago our pup, Lana, had a lump appear on her bum by the side of her tail.  It was bigger than a tennis ball and we were very concerned (think she was about 15 weeks at the time) - she plays quite rough sometimes with my mother's dog and we thought she had probably bumped herself - but like you say we were very worried and took her straight to the vet.  Vet said it had to be a bump it was fluid filled, not giving her any trouble at all and temperature was only very slightly up...Conclusion was possible haematoma (a harmless blood blister, if a rather large one) and take to take her back the next day.  Took her back and it was no smaller - No bigger either!  The vet kept her in this time to drain it which really upset me because not only did I not want to leave my little girl but I felt that the lump hadn't been given long enough to reduce in size naturally.  Anyway, it was drained and turned out to be blood and therefore, yet again, a haematoma!!  A few days later it had refilled - Took her back and the vet decided to keep her in and give her a GA so he could take a sample of the lump.  I was soooo upset, when I picked her up she was so sore and still such a baby, I felt really guilty - I got left with a trainee nurse who couldn't even talk to me she was so nervous :rolleyes:  I had to wait 10 days for the results and oh surprise, surprise a haematoma   I felt so guilty for putting my poor girl through this which I know is easier said now I have the results but I felt that a sledgehammer was used to crush a walnut!  After the biopsy the lump refilled again....But after the results I left her well alone to recover and the lump went down in its own time (took about 2 weeks all in all!)  It was hardly surprising that the lump had refilled as it was blood it was only natural that when the cavity was drained it would refill again.  I know I've gone on a bit but what you have described is exactly how I would have described Lana's lump - problem is as owners we would never compromise where a lump is concerned and I was at the vet's mercy - and £250 down (we have since changed vets over this affair)  It is very convenient to have a scab over the bump which is probably why the vet has mentioned it may be a red herring I guess?  My dog had age on her side, being just a baby it was highly unlikely to be anything nasty.  So hopefully this bump will turn out to be a harmless haematoma...Just keep an eye on your vet!! ;)
Sarah

Cheers Sarah - we figured it might be a fluid thing from bumping into things - she can be a clumsy old so-and-so when shes furtling through the bushes! But had no idea how long to give it to go down. It seems to have stopped growing anyway, and is still not worrying her, so as long as it carries on like that, I'll give it a week before I take her back. Vet was muttering about a GA but is quite a reasonable fellow so will probably only push it if he thinks its really necessary! She does look rather like she's growing a spare head at the minute, bless her.

Hi Jenna, thats how long it took to go down on Lana but it was played around with quite alot.  If you mail me your E-mail I have a photo of it!!!  It was quite a size!  Dont know if your familiar with the Afghan hound bum but they have a couple of very prominent 'pin' bones either side of the tail and slightly down a bit.  The lump totally covered this bone and we think it was done when she bumped this bone against an open door edge when she was playing with my mum's dog :rolleyes:
Sarah