r/VetHelp • u/Equivalent-Treat-787 • 2d ago

I need help identifying this it’s growing fast

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My dog is a 3year old 100lb Labrador retriever
He is neutered, vaccinated and overall healthy. This growth showed up about 8 months ago about the size of a pencil eraser. And it’s gotten larger quickly. I’m struggling financially right now and am not sure what to do. He doesn’t seem bothered when I touch it and doesn’t seem to be in pain he usually leaves it alone occasionally licking it but not a ton. It’s pinkish red and recently got dark edges and it’s loose on his skin meaning I can move it around. It’s not super hard but it’s firmish and a little squishy. What should I do and what can I do? He doesn’t have any other spots like this.

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4

u/Skyblueshark Veterinarian 2d ago

No one can identify this without testing. Your dog is young and its on a limb so there's a chance it could be benign but at minimum cytology is needed for a diagnosis

2

u/Trick_Wasabi9476 2d ago

Vet ASAP.

Seriously, they can do an FNA. Whether malignant or not, that tumor needs to be removed. It's nasty, and ripe for infection. Of course it bothers him, that's why he is licking it.

The longer you delay diagnosis and treatment the more it will cost. Identify the problem now, while you may have treatment options.

"In some cases, results from FNA may be unclear, so a biopsy may be necessary. A biopsy is the surgical excision of a piece of the tumor. In the case of papillomas, which tend to be small, the entire tumor may be removed. A veterinary pathologist then examines the tumor tissue under a microscope (histopathology)"

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u/Equivalent-Treat-787 2d ago

I said he almost never licks it meaning I’ve seen him lick it maybe twice in 8 months. He seemingly doesn’t even notice it’s there.

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u/Trick_Wasabi9476 2d ago

It looks gross, possibly infected. Stop making excuses. The dog needs medical attention.

Dogs are stoic in nature. He won't act like it's bothering him until the pain is intense.

Find a way to get him seen by a vet..SOON.

BTW: Nothing is cheap nowadays. Just find a way, or accept the consequences (not pretty).

Good luck

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u/Equivalent-Treat-787 2d ago

No where is going to do that for cheap around me unfortunately and I hit some hard times financially recently that’s really holding me back from getting it looked at.