Nova has a lump

I discovered a lump on my 5 year old Lab mix Nova about 4 days ago. It is located on her left shoulder and there is no pain when I touch it however I'm extremely concerned. In the past 4 days the lump has gotten MUCH larger. It is about as long and wide as an egg, but about half the width of one. It just continues to get much larger every time I look at her. She has had a small lump on her stomach for the past month but it has not gotten larger or smaller so I wasn't too concerned however this new one has me worrying about her 24/7.

She has a vet appointment on Wed at 10am to get her shots, however I may take her in early morning Monday depending on its size. I just want to get it looked at and find out what it is ASAP.

The scariest thought? I leave for Haines Alaska on Sunday June 3rd and I won't be back for 4 months. If my little girl has something serious wrong with her I'll definitely postpone my trip no matter what the cost. I just love her so much, she has to be ok.

::Edited to add Photos::

Here are two photo's, The circled part is where you can see a diffrence in the hair and you can see there is a lump under the skin:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...g?t=1180238298

This one isn't as good, but if you look in the circled area, the darker hair is darker because it is raised up
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...g?t=1180238319

:(
Ashley

Oh dear. I'm sorry. I would tell you not to worry because Labs are known to get lumps. Dasher has quite a few fatty ones on him. The only thing that concerns me is you say the size has changed in such a short time. I hope it's nothing serious and she'll be ok. I don't blame you for not going if it is something serious. I hope it won't have to come to that, though. I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Give her a hug from me.

Go to the vet sooner than your scheduled appointment. With luck and prayers it will just be a fatty lump. But those that grow fast are suspicious. I will pray for fat!!

I hope it is nothing serious. Prayers going out for Nova.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aspen and Misty

I discovered a lump on my 5 year old Lab mix Nova about 4 days ago. It is located on her left shoulder and there is no pain when I touch it however I'm extremely concerned. In the past 4 days the lump has gotten MUCH larger. It is about as long and wide as an egg, but about half the width of one. It just continues to get much larger every time I look at her. She has had a small lump on her stomach for the past month but it has not gotten larger or smaller so I wasn't too concerned however this new one has me worrying about her 24/7.

She has a vet appointment on Wed at 10am to get her shots, however I may take her in early morning Monday depending on its size. I just want to get it looked at and find out what it is ASAP.

The scariest thought? I leave for Haines Alaska on Sunday June 3rd and I won't be back for 4 months. If my little girl has something serious wrong with her I'll definitely postpone my trip no matter what the cost. I just love her so much, she has to be ok.

::Edited to add Photos::

Here are two photo's, The circled part is where you can see a diffrence in the hair and you can see there is a lump under the skin:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...g?t=1180238298

This one isn't as good, but if you look in the circled area, the darker hair is darker because it is raised up
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...g?t=1180238319

:(
Ashley

---

If it is soft and appears to be filled with fluid it could be a cyst. If it has a firm feel, then getting the dog in ASAP for a needle aspirate is wise. In the mean time you should check the dog for other possible undiscovered lumps. For example check around underneath the chin or gumline on the neck, groin, abdomen for any swollen lymph nodes.

In general ANY lump whether it grows or not should have a needle aspirate taken by the Vet. Have the Vet aspirate the one on the abdomen. If a lump previously aspirated suddenly starts to grow larger at an accelerated rate, it should be re-aspirated.

The lump is very hard and has grown more since the last time I posted. She is going in to the vet tomrrow as soon as they open to get it checked out. Please pray for my girl, I haven't stopped crying all day. Most of it all because I just feel so guilty. I have put so much money into my trip to Alaska that I have no funds available for this medical emergency. I always have money on hand in case if something comes up but I barely have enough to get me to Alaska and through my first 2 weeks that even a $20 vet visit is going to make it so that I'm barely scrapping buy. I'd take out a loan if I had to in order to get her well though. My poor girl, I just love her (and my other kids) more then anything in the world.

Ashley

Hope your girl is okay, Ashley.

Please keep us updated. We know how scary bumps can be.

Ash, I'm just seeing this. I will have Nova in my prayers. If it feels hard it probably isn't a fatty growth but could very well be a sebaceous cyst. My RB Cody had one right in that area and it got pretty large as it filled with more fluid. It got almost to the size of a tennis ball and very hard. I had it checked of course and the vet explained it was a sebaceous cyst and we could drain it if it didn't do so on its own. It did finally drain and go down quite a bit. It seems to be under the skin like a cyst would be from your photos. If it is that it is painless and benign. I hope you get some reassuring answers at your visit tomorrow.

Thank you everyone. You don't know how much your kind words have helped me. I just worry about her so much and what our future holds for us.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by K9soul

My RB Cody had one right in that area and it got pretty large as it filled with more fluid. It got almost to the size of a tennis ball and very hard.

---

This makes me feel so much better. I have been reading that if it is hard then it isn't good. I know Nova may not have what Cody had, but atleast it makes me feel better to know that there are some "hard lumps" that turn out to be harmless.

Ashley

Thinking of you two. Hope everything's going to be ok.

If it is soft, it contains fluid or fat and needs to be drained by a vet with a needel. If it is hard, it may be cancer (MAY BE) and needs immedient treatment by a vet.

Nova will be in my thoughts. I do hope it is nothing serious. I can imagine what you are going through not knowing. Please do not feel guilty about this, you are doing everything you can.

I hope nothing is wrong with Nova! :(

Nova is back from the vet and passed out on the floor! Boy was it a long, stressful day. The vet took a good look at the lump and told us that he doesn't think that it is anything to worry over; however, he said that what it feels like and what it is are 2 different things. He told us that in order to be able to know for sure what it is she needs to have a portion of it taken out with a needle and sent away to a lab. We told him that we definitely wanted to do it and they took her in the back, gave her a WONDERFUL shaved shoulder ;) and poked her with some big needles. Nova makes some, umm, interesting noises and when they were poking her with the needles she made some of them! Poor girl. You could hear everyone in the back talking and laughing at her because she was so vocal about it all. When they brought her back in the vet was laughing and saying that even when they were done she kept talking to them. That’s my Girl!

We will know in about a week what it is. I love my vet because he is going to call the lab on Wednesday and tell them we would like them to take a look at the sample ASAP so that maybe we will have the results back before I leave on Sunday. My family and I have decided that if the results are not back by the time I leave I will still fly out on Sunday. My sister will be in charge of Nova's vet appointments while I am gone. The vet knows to call my sister after the 3rd to update us with the results. If Nova has cancer and needs Chemo (which he said is possible) I will fly back and be with her. The vet sounded optimistic about it though and like it really might be nothing. I feel so much better knowing that the results will be on their way soon.

Ashley

I am so glad to hear that the vet felt rather positive about the lump. I will definitely keep Nova in my prayers.

Hope the lump turns out to be nothing serious!!

Hope its nothing serious Nova but will be praying for you anyway

Very sweet and noble of your vet to rush the results. Lots of prayers that the results are "nothing to worry about" so you can enjoy your trip. I know how you feel..I would never leave Logan. Prayers that you won't have to. Positive thoughts and lots of Hugs on all of you, sweetie.

How about a cute picture of Nova to celebrate some good news?

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...g?t=1180659026

May I start off by saying how much I love my vet! He called yesterday to see if he could rush the resolts, they told him it takes about 24 to 48 hours to get the results. Well, my vet called them back again today only hours after they got the results and they told him the same thing. However, 2 hours later the results were being faxed over to my vet. Guess they wanted him to stop bugging them! LOL

Turns out that her lump in a mixture of fat and cellulite. They said the underlining cause is due to a "vaccination or some other kind of trauma". YAY!!!!!! Poor girl.......but YAY!!!!!!. The lump has already shrunk a little bit and I'm hopeing it will continue to do so. If in 2 weeks the size of the lump is the same Nova will go in for her "free" (it's covered under her wellness plan) teeth cleaning and have it removed. At that time I am going to opt to send the whole lump away for testing so that I can be 100% sure there is nothing wrong with my girl. I will update in a few weeks and let you know what my mom says about the size of the lump. It looks like I will still be heading to Alaska in 2 days after all. I almost moved my leaving day out a few days but thanks to a devoted vet I can now rest assured that my girl is in capable, loving hands and 100% healthy.

I'm so happy I could scream!!

Ashley :D

In my head I am jumping up and down with you. I am so glad it is nothing serious, and that it seems to be improving already. :D Enjoy your trip. ;)

Kinda sounds like the lump was a fatty lipoma? Either way I'm glad it's nothing serious.

*Boing!* *Boing!* *Boing!* That's me jumping up and down with glee! Wait..I'll let out a scream with you too! Have a worry-free, fun time!!!!!

Wooohooooo wonderful news Ashley :D.

Scream away!!!! That is great news :D

:D WOOOOHOOOOOOOO that is totally awesome news!!!!!!!!!!!! have a great trip now that Nova is in great shape.

Oh, that is such a relief!! Awesome news. Have a great trip!! :D

It's rare that I venture over to the dog section but this thread caught my eye. I'm so glad all is well w/Nova. My RB peeka-poo dog Charmin had that same type of lump on her back and it was rock hard. When I took her in to my vet, he said "No need to biopsy. I'm positive it's cancer and it's coming out now." She didn't need chemo or any further treatment. We were lucky. And my vet said that the tumor was so obviously malignant that he was afraid it had spread but it hadn't. So when I read your thread, I thought "Oh no, please." I'm soooo happy that Nova is ok.

Thanks everyone! I'm so happy my girl is going to be ok!! I just can't stop smiling everytime I look at her!

Mary (Medusa) - I'm glad you ventured over on to the dog side! I took her to another vet to get her booster shots on friday and they said they can't beleave the lump is not malignant and that if it was there dog they would have the lump removed ASAP. So, we are considering scheduling her surgery for the removal next week sometime. My other vet said if the size doesn't go down to get it removed any way and this way if she were to have cancer it could just be removed and hopefully she would be ok. We want to do what is best for Nova. If by this Wednesday it has not gone down is size, her surgery will be scheduled for the following week.

Ashley

I'm so glad it seems she'll be ok. If I were you, I'd feel better getting the lump removed, just in case. Give her a big hug from me. And I hope you can enjoy your Alaskan trip now. Get lots and lots of pics.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aspen and Misty

Thanks everyone! I'm so happy my girl is going to be ok!! I just can't stop smiling everytime I look at her!

Mary (Medusa) - I'm glad you ventured over on to the dog side! I took her to another vet to get her booster shots on friday and they said they can't beleave the lump is not malignant and that if it was there dog they would have the lump removed ASAP. So, we are considering scheduling her surgery for the removal next week sometime. My other vet said if the size doesn't go down to get it removed any way and this way if she were to have cancer it could just be removed and hopefully she would be ok. We want to do what is best for Nova. If by this Wednesday it has not gone down is size, her surgery will be scheduled for the following week.

Ashley

---

Did you ask the second Vet(s) how much confidence they have in determining whether it's a lipoma with a needle aspirate? My Vets could just about tell on my previous dog, as soon as they squirted the aspirate on a slide, as it had a greasy lobular appearance. A quick staining of the slide would then confirm it. Then came the slide that didn't have a greasy appearance, which when sent off to a Pathology lab came back as a pericytoma. Another characteristic of a lipoma or fatty cell tumor is that it is free floating without any attachment to underlying tissues, as it's growing just underneath the skin in the fatty layer.

No doubt having it removed and sent off to a Pathology lab would answer all questions.

Update On Nova

I spoke to my mom and the lump is 1/4th the size it was orinally. We are going to see what size it is next friday and then make a desicion. I am very happy with her progress though.

Dragondawg - I have a lot of confidence in both of my vets and feel that both are doing all they can for my puppies and me.

Ashley

I'm glad the lump is getting smaller. Hopefully surgery won't be needed. :)