Dog ate chocolate?

 ask a vet

Lumps on belly

Species: Dog
Breed: Border Collie
Age: 5-8 years
Hello, Dr. Marie:

I noticed some small bumps on my dog's bladder on/near the site of her spaying surgery (which was 6 and a half years ago). They are about the size of a pin head. I want to know if I should be concerned or if it is normal to have bumps like these. I have not noticed any changes in her behavior or her urine output/color/smell/frequency, etc. She has been to the vet twice in the last 2 months (once for a regular checkup and once just last week because she was reverse-sneezing and it freaked me out) and they said she was healthy, though they recommended that I run a "senior" blood test on her since she just turned 7.

What would you suggest? Should I be worried? I will take her in if advisable, but since she's been in so recently, I'd prefer not to.

Thank you so much for your help!
Julie Mills


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Hi Julie!

Is there any way you could take a picture of the area? It would really help me in advising you. If you can get a picture, you can send it to photos@askavetquestion.com.

Quite often, bumps on the abdomen can be just fat lumps. It's also possible that it is a wart or a cyst. But, some of these can be mammary tumors.

Was she a puppy when she was spayed? If she was spayed before her first heat then it is extremely unlikely that this is anything to worry about as we don't see many mammary tumors in dogs who have not gone through a heat cycle.

Let me know if you can get a picture and I'll see if I can add more advice. If you can't then, I really would advise having the vet take a look at it. While it is likely nothing to worry about, it's much better to be safe than sorry!

Dr. Marie.


Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?

Check out our dog age calculator and cat age calculator.

Want to receive pet coupons, vet advice and info on new pet products in your inbox?

* indicates required

We'll only send you great stuff, never spam. Unsubscribe any time.

Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

Customer reply:

Dear Dr. Marie,

Thank you for your speedy response! I just sent three pictures to that email address. I hope that they are clear enough!

She was 6 months old when she was spayed, so she has never gone into heat.

Thank you again for your help!
Julie


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

OK...sorry for the delay! I had an early bedtime last night. :)

Here is one of your pictures:

bumps on dog's skin

Now, I definitely can't make a diagnosis over the internet but what I see in the picture looks like it is likely nothing serious. It really doesn't look like a mammary cancer. But, if the area gets much larger then I would have it checked out.

It almost looks like it could be a reaction to a mosquito bite, or possibly a mild area of skin infection.

Again, I can't give you a diagnosis. But, I don't think you need to rush in to the vet's. Keep an eye on the area and if they are getting much larger than have her seen. Otherwise, next time you are in to the vet's have the vet take a look!




Customer reply:

Thank you, Dr. Marie!

Jammy has gotten some sort of skin irritation in her bladder area for years, so I think that the red bump in the picture is just irritation. I'm pretty sure it's not related to the bump underneath because I felt a few more small ones around the area of her incision that have nothing on the surface of the skin over top them. Would this change things?

Thank you again for your help!!
Julie


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

You're very welcome! If she keeps getting more and more little bumps like this then it could be a sign of a skin infection. I think if the situation is getting worse or you are seeing more and more bumps then she should have another visit with her doctor!



Search for similar questions:

ask a vet

Popular questions...

Atropine? I live in a tiny town in Nicaragua and there is no vet...just a veterinary food and... (8290 views)

9 month old puppy pregnant? My puppy is only 9 months old and she was in heat for her first time. Her father was... (42873 views)

Cat limping and vomiting. Today I noticed that my cat was limping a bit. Later on in the day I noticed that... (21496 views)

Possible elbow hygroma. I just noticed a mass on my 4 month old puppy's front right leg. She is mini... (30000 views)

Dog died of pancreatitis. My yorkie died at the vets. She was 10 and a half. I fed her new dog food... (36714 views)

Rodent ulcer treatment options. My cat is 9 yrs old has it 4th case of rodent ulcer on its mouth usely it takes... (14608 views)

Not eating, panting. Dear Dr. Marie, I have three dogs all together. Daisy is the alpha of the group.... (16417 views)

What are these little brown bugs. hi um my puppy named chesley is 6-8 months andi just got her recently i cant remeber... (24965 views)

Trouble walking. On Wednesday evening we called our dogs for dinnertime, and our 10 year old Alaskan... (20473 views)

Sunscreen for cats and dogs. My cat is a white cat and he loves to lounge in the sun. I was wondering if you... (16106 views)

See all questions...

Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.