Found a lump

[BabyElephant]

I was doing my normal checks on Poppy and I have found a lump - I think it's a big one. It's on her back, above/on her spine, just below the shoulder blades. Is oval in shape, quite firm and is just over one inch long.

I called the vets and tell them and ask if they will do the annual check at the same time (it's 3 weeks before I wanted it but still - Poppy comes first) because I don't want another trip in 3 weeks as Poppy doesn't like going. They ask me questions, Poppy is lively, still eating, and I tell them the lump moves when I move the skin. So they say we should be fine until Tuesday but can go in tomorrow morning or use the emergency server on Saturday afternoon or Sunday if she takes a turn for the worst .

I've just rechecked the lump and now I'm not sure if it does move with the skin - it's hard to tell. I'm in two minds, do I wait until Tuesday or take her in tomorrow??? At the moment I'm getting paranoid as to what it might be. Could she have bruised herself with the tunnel on Wednesday, is it just a fatty lump, is it a tumor, is it on her spine... you guys know what a worrywart I am so you get the picture...

[Vinni]

BE...

If you are worried I would surely go in tommorrow, if nothing then to put your mind at ease.

I found such a lump on my Alex once....it turned out to be just a cyst, and five years later he still has it and is about as healthy as any 11 yeat old Tzu with a bad heart murmur can be.

[Dax]

I find lumps, etc all the time. Sometimes they remain - other times I try to show my hubby 3 hours later and it's gone. I think you're a good mommy to be a worry wart but I'm pretty sure it will wait til the next visit.

I would keep an eye on it and if it grows rapidly I would go to the vet's as an extra trip.

[Moo]

Don't worry about it really...

As Dax says, unless it starts growing, it's probably fine.

[mara]

Maybe a bug bite. Does it seem to hurt her?

[dobermom]

I am a worry wart too, but I think I would wait till next visit.

Easier said the done I know.

[weezyNollie]

Even once you go to the vets, they won't be able to tell you IMMEDIATELY what it is. They will probably aspirate it and then look at it under microscope, or even send it off to a lab. In which case, you'll have to wait for results. Waiting a couple extra days (or however long) won't make much a difference.

I would just let it wait, unless over night it becomes the size of a tennis ball! It'll be fine.

[GretaJack]

Hey don't forget that I took my dog to the vet for a zit! LOL!. Honestly, I am sure she could probably wait until Tuesday. Lumps are weird and fre aky but as Dax and Moo said, if it doesn't change rapidly (overnight) then I would feel comfortable waiting. A good thing to do, if you and Poppy are not into cosmetic appearances, is to take a black permanent marker and color the skin and hair where the lump is today. That will help you find it quickly tomorrow to notice if there are any changes in it over night. And an FYI for those of you with black dogs, white out works in that circumstance, as long as the dog can not reach the area with its tongue.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

[A good thing to do, if you and Poppy are not into cosmetic appearances, is to take a black permanent marker and color the skin and hair where the lump is today.]

Yes! I thought I was the only one who used a black magic marker for this! Bogey has a lump that takes me a while to find so the marking it saved a lot of time at the vet! The vet really appreciated it, too!

[BabyElephant]

Thanks guys, it's fantastic having people on here that help and support me rather than giving me a hard time about not taking her in straight away (inlaws).

Mara it doesn't appear to hurt her but then hubby was really helpful and said "She's a lab she won't show she's in pain" (his parents/his dog had numerous cancerous lumps and she had to be put down and she never once complained) - I was OK until I showed him and then he started ******** out and so did I.

Weezy I know they won't be able to tell me immediately but hubby thinks a few days will make all the difference.

I checked again this morning and it appears to be getting harder/firmer... so I'm not sure what that means. Anyway, hers's some pictures - it's really noticable when she's sitting rather than standing and I know it doesn't look like much but she is normally "perfectly straight/flat" in this area!