Small Hard Bump

[joella]

Last night while petting Anka, (my 6 month old yellow lab) my husband noticed a small, hard lump under the skin on her underside. It's slightly smaller than an M&M, is movable under the skin, and is very hard. The lump is right on the top end (the end toward her head) of her spay scar. Any thoughts on what this might be? Should I have a vet look at it?

[Dax]

Could be an undisolved sucture or scar tissue. No need to worry yet. Just have vet check during your next visit.

For the record - I would start a list of little things like this to discuss with your vet so you don't forget.

If it gets larger or dog develops other symptoms - you might want to make an appointment.

[erdog3]

Yes I would go for a retained suture, or scar tissue.
Just feel it again, is it hot to the touch? Does it look a different color on the skin surface? If so it is infected and needs looking at now.
If not then as Dax said, the next vet visit.

[joella]

It is not hot to the touch or colored differently. That's a great idea Dax, I think I'll start that list right now!

Oh, upon checking it again for color and temp, I noticed I was wrong above, it is NOT movable under the skin, the skin just moved around on top of it.

[erdog3]

Probably a bit of scar tissue or swelling from the suture site. It will probably settle down in a few weeks. Just keep an eye on it. It takes longer for things to heal on the inside than the outside.

[joella]

Thanks, I'm such a worry wart you know! Can you imagine when I have kids? I'll be like, she spit up a little, is everything OKAY???

[erdog3]

Joella if you didn't care, you wouldn't ask, goes to show what a loving mom you are, and will be when you do have kids.
You don't notice things like that if you don't pet and look at your dog, so you must pet and look at her a lot. All part of the bonding process.

BTW Love your avatar!! Labs RULE!!

[Dax]

Kids are different. They can learn early on to tell you what they want. Even from the way the cry (food, pain, lonely). For the most part, our dogs suffer silently if something is bothering them. It makes us even more of worry warts vs less

[Moo]

Kirby had one of those near his shoulder... moved around... I thought it was weird and poked at it every day, moved it around... then one day I lost it, or it disappeared.

[Lessica Jake]

Bailey had a bump on the top of her head a while ago, but I squeezed it while I was checking it out, to see how hard it was. It popped! Hasn't been back since. She has two similar ones that don't pop. One on her belly and one on the back of her ear. They look kind of like warts or something. I've decided that she's just a lumpy dog, and unless the lumps are getting bigger or causing her pain, I don't worry too much about them. Just point them out the next time we see a vet.