I have just picked up my girl from a 6 day holiday with her mum, brother and various other family members. On the way home we noticed a large swelling under the skin on her lower chest/upper abdomen. sort of sausage shaped and approx. 10cm by 4cm. It doesn't feel hot and not particularly tender. It was definitely not there 6 days ago when I last saw her.
Her breeder didn't mention a lump but interestingly said she wouldn't be surprised if she had her 1st season early as two of her girls were in season and she has spent the last few days playing with her same age brother (7 mths tomorrow) and it may stimulate her to start a bit early.
I was wondering if this swelling could be hormonal?
I have booked an appointment with the vet tomorrow morning to check her out but wondered if anyone has come across this.

just to update--the vet hasn't ever seen anything like it before! 99% sure it's not tumour so at least that's encouraging. His first thought was trauma to the chest which would figure as she was playing rough with some other young dogs just prior to us going away and I vaguely remember a chest to chest collision. He offered to remove it or 'wait and see' for a couple of weeks which is what we are going to do. He suggested arnica 3 tabs a day and I have just started it.

Glad it desn't appear to be anything serious :)

Good news that it isn't anything serious, not having a bitch I know very little about hormones & seasons, but I'm sure if it was hormonal the vet would have said!

They can be very rough when they are playing these goldens :rolleyes:

Please keep us posted with how she progresses :)