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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.


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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!



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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.