Lump on dog

Just found a lump on my son's service dog's ribs. It's about 2cm in diameter and I don't think it's rock solid, but it's def not squishy. No pain when I press on it or try to see if it moves (it doesn't), no discomfort at all. She is laying on that side right now. No change in behavior or eating habits. She's 9 and on the smaller side for a gsd, about 62#. Def not severe enough to get to the emergency vet tonight, but her vet won't be open until Tuesday. If my son feels it, he's gonna freak out. I'm trying not to freak out myself right now. I know a biopsy is the only true way to tell what it is, but any help? My neighbor came over, her Doberman had lots of tumors but couldn't have them removed due to a bleeding disorder. She said she thinks it feels solid and it definitely doesn't move. Regular vet or just try to get in with a specialist? I'm so scared and my son will lose his mind. She's found him 7 times he's taken off (Autism), alerts to seizures (Epilepsy) and calms during meltdowns. We aren't ready to lose her yet :(

Hello!  I'm sorry; it can be really stressful when you find a lump on your dog.  Make sure you search for 'lump' in our blog as there are some excellent blogs about this. You are correct in that a lump in itself isn't an emergency but something that should never-the-less be looked at very soon; Tuesday seems appropriate for a small lump that is not obviously causing problems and the same might be true for humans.  Perhaps you could monitor it for changes and try not to feel, squish or squeeze it too much in the meantime. Most regular vets deal with lumps every day and ought to be able to biopsy or completely remove it for you;  it may simply be an inflammatory lump and nothing to worry about, although a lack of pain can be a feature of cancer. You can ask to be referred to a specialist oncologist at any time, or ask your own vets to call one for confirmation that they are following the right path (and obviously their advice is usually the best) but lumps are common in first opinion practise and first opinion vets will certainly have experience of dealing with them and knowing when they need help, so most people will find out what the lump is first.

Ps:  This may be obvious but I am not your responsible vet.  If you feel that the lump might merit being seen sooner, always call your emergency vet for in-person triage.

Thank you! I'm calling her vet as soon as they open in the morning. So far the kids haven't felt it and she's still acting the same as she usually is. :) Lisa

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