bump?

[heathea]

My large dog Life has a pencil eraser sized bump halfway down her right flank about at the midline. I noticed it a month ago and worked on the principle that it was a zit and kept an eye on it. It hasn't gotten bigger, and it is flesh colored. It is not visible unless you really look for it and you have to feel for it. My husband thinks it is a mole or wart. Next vet visit we are going to have it looked at, however I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or experiences with this kind of thing. I hate that it exists and would love to rush her to the vet to get it off her, but alas, $ is incresingly tight.
Thanks for your help.
Heather

[Jill Ramsey]

Finnegan gets them on the outside of his lips, but his are acne (according to our vet). I don't know about the rest of the body. If it hasn't changed at all, I would maybe give the vet a call about what else it could be besides a wart or something. I know some just tell you to bring them in, but mine will tell me whether or not he thinks it's something that could wait until a scheduled visit.

[Hee Yung Lee]

My guess is a papilloma (spelling?). Bogart had a few of these when he was younger and they just went away on their own as his immune system developed.

[heathea]

Thanks for all of your advice. I am thinking it is a wart (or papilloma-sp.?). As it has not grown or done anything else, I think I can hold off until a scheduled visit. Thanks for all your help.
Heather

[Clair Taberner]

if it's free moving with the skin then it most likely can wait. however if it is not it would be best to at least ring:)

[Amber]

Some of our clients bring their dogs to us for grooming and they will have them as well. My boss just says it's a "skin tag"...something that older dogs will get sometimes with age. How old is Life?

[Hee Yung Lee]

Hmmm...I thought more about it and decided I should add that Bogart had papillomas one in is mouth and another one on his back, but the vet said it was because of his young immune system. I don't remember how old Life is, but if he is older maybe as soon as you're able to and if the bump is still there, you could have it biopsied just to be safe. Good luck and I hope it's nothing more than a papilloma or skin tag.

[heathea]

I don't think it is a skin tag, however, I have never seen one. The bump she has is not on the surface of the skin, however, it is not underneath the skin either (moves with the skin). If I had just found it I would swear it was acne. When I poke at it, Life doesn't like it.
Life is a female who is 2 1/2 years old. I have seen dogs of different ages get warts, but I am not sure of that either.
I can afford to make an appt. at the end of the month. I don't have a vet here yet that I can just call. I took them to a low cost clinic to get their vaccinations. I was looking around, but I am fairly sure that if I just call a random vet, they are not going to help me.
Anyway, thanks for the help...
Heather

[Jill Ramsey]

Heather,
What about the Humane Society? Or some rescue group?

[heathea]

Funny you should say that...I emailed my friends who I consider a rescue group all to themselves (I know they have over 10 rescues, but I lose count after that). They have been through pretty much every vet trauma there is. The concenses seems to be that it is a small cyst or "zit". I will take the dog in as soon as I can. It is not growing, it is not below the skin, if it were anyone elses dog I would tell them not to worry about it until they go to the vet next, but it is MY dog, so I worry.