My dog has a painful lump on her head. It's not improving. What now?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think you should have this checked. The fact that it was previously known to be benign, does not mean that now it cannot be malignant. If it has gotten bigger, it would be great to sample it again. I recommend you have Lily evaluated by your veterinarian for a test called fine needle aspirate which is an easy, quick and pain-free procedure which in the majority of cases will help reach a diagnosis to identify what the best course of action is based on the findings. In some cases, a biopsy is needed for a diagnosis. If it truly is benign then removal is not necessarily recommended. However, if it is malignant and it has not spread to other locations, then surgical removal is recommended. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign.

I think that’s a good idea to get it checked out. Anytime a mass changes, you should be concerned for cancer but hopefully it’s not that serious. Try to get her in as soon as you can. The doctor may need to aspirate that mass to get the diagnosis. If Katie will allow it, a cool (not cold) compress may also make it feel better. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

He only way to find out what it is, is to have it surgical removed. If it is growing and changing then it is not a cosmetic procedure, that warrants a medical reason to remove it. It may just be an adenoma or a benign cyst, but being on top of his head, is ir gets too large it will be harder to remove. I would try to schedule it as soon as you can

There can be several causes of a lump like this, including a seroma or hematoma from hitting her head on something, an abscess or infection, an enlarged lymph node or salivary gland (if the lump is lower toward the jaw), a tumor or cyst, among a few others. Since some of these issues need veterinary care to resolve, I would recommend that Fifi get checked out by a vet. After physical examination, the vet may recommend a needle aspirate and microscopic exam or x-rays to see what the cause of the lump could be.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry Bella is having this problem. The most common reasons for a lump include inflammation/infection, a foreign body such as a thorn or other, a seroma or fluid filled sac, a hematoma or sac full of blood. Also an insect/spider bite and trauma are all possible. Based on her age, a tumor is less likely. Sounds like the warm compresses are helping and she is regaining more function. If the lump completely resolves I think you are in the clear. But if the lump persists, worsens, or comes back and/or the opening of the mouth is still affected, I would advise having your veterinarian take a look. A physical exam, cytology of a sample of the discharge or a culture may be indicated. Also an X-ray may be needed to assess the bone structures and the soft tissue. Good luck with Bella.

Without knowing the cause/type of the lumps, it would be hard to give advice. The best first step is to have one or some of the lumps aspirated to see if they are something benign such as a lipoma (which you can just keep an eye on), or something that may need to be removed that you can then try to save up for, or see if your local humane society/vet hospital offers assistance to low income clients for. Depending on what the lumps are, treatment will vary. These sites may also help in case you need to get Bella in sooner, or pay for surgery: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/are-you-having-trouble-affording-your-pet https://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/

Ouch! I'd have that checked out by your vet in person, especially if it appeared suddenly or is bothersome to Bella. They can take a sample of the spot to rule out any more serious issues such as tumor growths, infections that need treatment, cysts, or see if it's something benign such as a skin tag or other small growth. Until you can get into your vet, it's a good idea to keep the area clean and dry, and monitor it for any signs of changes such as oozing debris, having irregular margins, worsening, etc, as these can all help your vet pinpoint the cause. An Elizabethan (cone) collar can also keep Bella from licking or chewing at it which can reduce irritation and prevent a secondary bacterial infection from taking hold.