Hi while stroking my mums dog today I noticed a strange lump on its right side near its back passage and the top of its tail.  It is about the size of a golf ball and when I had a feel around it made a sort of squelching noise and seem to dissappear when I squeezed it slightly as if it went back in on itself  so I thought it was gone and when he come back in again from the garden I checked him to make sure and it was there again.  He doesn't seem to be in any pain or anything or as not shown any signs of ill health and is pretty lively for an 11 year old dog.  Now I have obviously got my mum worrying as we recently lost a dog to lukemia and she had lumps on her and she is debating what to do, has if there was anything serious it does seem unfair for operations on a dog of that age to be done. Im trying to look up information to see if it could also be anal gland problems or an abcess but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

hiya sjb,

i would say it could be something to do with his anal sac/s. Maybe an abcess or infection...? Is he licking at his rear, biting or scooting indicating an infection...? An abcess would probably appear fluidy and squishy to the touch, and would need draining, probably followed by a course of antiobiotics, however they can burst on their own accord.

i would get him to the vet just to make sure, although i doubt its something more sinister. I'd have thought that if the lump was cancerous in any way, it would be firm and wouldn't move about. 

nic