Clyde has been developing a large lump on his front left elbow, which has grown rapidly in the last week or two. At first it felt soft, as if it had fluid inside. It was also moveable under the skin and didn’t feel attached to muscle or bone.
However, now it feels harder (still slightly moveable and doesn’t feel like it attached to anything, however because of its grown size, it does seem less moveable than when I first noticed it.
From what I can tell, it does not seem to be painful for him when I massage it or attempt to move or squeeze it slightly.
It sounds like Clyde has a rapidly growing lump on his elbow that has changed from being soft to harder, which definitely warrants some attention.
Firstly, it might be a **lipoma**, which is a benign fatty tumor. These are usually soft and moveable, but they can sometimes become firmer over time. Another possibility is an **abscess**, which is a collection of pus that forms due to an infection. Abscesses can start off soft and become harder as they encapsulate. It could also be a **cyst**, which is a fluid-filled sac that can become firmer if the fluid inside starts to solidify. Lastly, it could be a **tumor**, which can be either benign or malignant. Rapid growth can sometimes indicate malignancy, although this is not always the case.
Keep a daily log of the lump’s size and any changes in shape or texture. Be on the lookout for other signs such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or changes in behavior.
While it’s good to be aware of the lump, avoid squeezing or pressing it too much as this could cause irritation or inflammation.
Although it’s a positive sign that Clyde doesn’t seem to be in pain, the rapid growth and change in texture are concerning. I recommend scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. They can perform a fine needle aspiration or biopsy to determine the nature of the lump and recommend appropriate treatment.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you.
Hello Dr. Brubermer,
I appreciate your thorough response to my concern. Your detailed professional advice on each of Clyde’s potential issue helped ease most of worries, and I will make an appointment with a vet here in LA tomorrow, as it was a long holiday weekend and most of the more affordable practices were closed.
I do have a follow up question in regards to your concern over a few domains, mostly surrounding the lump’s rapid growth and changes in his behavior—particularly around lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.
I did notice last week that Clyde has lost some weight, but this could also be due to me limiting his food daily to half of what I used to feed him—usually only one-two cups of dry food mixed with either store bought dog toppers or boiled chicken with pumpkin puree, as he was becoming noticeably overweight last year.
I have noticed him being as less “alert” or enthusiastically curious as he usually is as he’s laying in bed and I’m working from home…
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