Crusty mass near vulva

Hello vets! My poodle mix has a mass near her vulva. She was chewing a bit last night and we noticed it this morning. Her vet is out of town this week & next so we saw a vet tech at our vets office who said it is fingernail nail like in texture and thinks it may be a keratin buildup of sorts? The mass appears to be surface level "it doesnt appear to be attached under the skin and seems cyst like, almost like filled with thick toothpaste like material"according to the vet tech. She sent her home on antibiotics and said to schedule blood work & removal surgery over the following 2 weeks. I'm incredibly nervous that it's something serious. She was groomed last week I'm wondering is this led to something? I know no one can give a diagnosis but would be curious if anyone has experienced something similar. She does have a history allergies and IBS. It seemed to appear quickly which makes me very anxious about cancer. I know that no one can provide guarantee but professional opinions are very appreciated.

Hello!  In the culture I'd like to promote, a problem would always be diagnosed or bacteria identified before antibiotics were given, especially where an animal is ok in themselves and the potentially infected area already walled off.  I wonder whether you are perhaps outside the UK because a vet tech here would not be allowed to prescribe antibiotics on the basis prescribed.  Please search for 'antibiotics' in the blog for more information.  For me, it is important to find what is going on with that lump and this should be done by investigation - perhaps palpation / biopsies / ultrasound scan as appropriate.   Cancer may indeed be on the list, as might a testicle (suggesting intersex condition), cyst, local foreign body, non cancerous skin lump, endocrine disease, injury or keratinising disease.  Your vet will come up with a list more appropriate to the individual when the animal can be examined in context.

*on the basis described* - sorry!

I also like to think that in the UK, a decision to schedule surgery would be made by a vet.   Is there any chance that you were actually talking to a veterinary surgeon?