What causes a sudden golfball-sized lump with a scab on my dog's leg?

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. It is very difficult to say what a lump could be without feeling it. My best guess is that this is a sebaceous cyst which is benign. So, yes, you should take him to your vet for an exam. It is not an emergency; just try to get him an appointment in the next week or so. ( https://www.kingsdale.com/sebaceous-cysts-in-dogs ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Drake! This lump could be from a bug bite, but it could also be a benign tumor of some sorts like a wart, or it could be a cyst. I would keep an eye on this lump for now. As long as it doesn't get bigger over the days leading up to his appointment on the 28th, it doesn't appear to bother him, there are no behavioral or appetite changes during this time, and/or you don't see any redness, warmth to the touch, or pus from the lump, it's fine to wait until he has his vaccine appointment. Should you observe any of the signs that I mentioned above, then I would take him into the vet sooner. Don't let him scratch at it, as that could make it worse. If he does start scratching at it, making it bleed, then it's bothering him and have him seen by a vet sooner. Good luck, I hope this helps!

It sounds like Cutie has a tumor or abscess on her leg. Dogs also have lymph nodes you may be feeling which are on the back of the leg behind the knee. An abscess would be hot and painful and may feel soft. A lymph node would be under the skin, firm, round and smooth. If this is a tumor they can vary in feel. Malignant tumors are irregular, attached to the deeper tissue and grow quickly. Benign growths like lipomas or fatty growths are often just below the skin, they feel round and smooth but softer than a lymph node. To find out what the lump on Cutie is she needs a veterinary exam and they can put a needle into the lump and look at the cells under a microscope. They will be able to tell if it's a fatty growth or infection. If the cells look like they could be cancer they will send the cells out for cytology, or remove the lump and send that tissue for a diagnosis. As Cutie is a young dog it's most likely a benign growth, an infection, or you are just feeling a normal lymph node under the skin. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cutie.

Ouch! Definitely something that should be checked out by your regular vet ASAP. Certain types of tumors such as mast cell tumors, hemangiomas, injuries, blood blisters, etc can all appear like this, and so it should be looked at and biopsied to see what is going on. Until you can get to your vet in the morning, keeping Berkeley from licking or chewing on the spot with an Elizabethan (cone) collar is best to reduce any further injury or irritation.

Unfortunately it is hard to tell what that lump is just by the picture. I would recommend you take her in to see your vet for an exam and potentially a fine needle aspirate of this lump. A fine needle aspirate is a way to try to exfoliate cells from the lump and look at them under the microscope to try to tell what this lump is. Even if it is a benign lump, she may need to have it removed if she continues to lick it. She also may need topical treatment or potentially antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatories if the lump is infected or causing her pain. I often recommend taking lumps off of legs sooner, as they are easier and generally less expensive to remove and close the skin when they are small. Large lumps on limbs can be quite difficult to remove, as there isn't much additional skin in this area to close over the wound.

This lump could be a cyst, abscess, lipoma, benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give her vet a call in the morning to make her an appointment. Best of luck.

Poor Brownie! Unfortunately there is no way to share photos in the forum, but you can request a consult with an expert online where you can share photos and get more in-depth help. As for the bump, in a senior dog like Brownie, there's always a chance it could be due to malignant tumor. It could also be a cyst, an abscess, or a benign tumor. Any suspicious bumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the bump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I would have Brownie seen by a vet tomorrow to have this bump examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed.