Bulge - Hernia?

Shepiers · #1 08-02-2010, 07:39 PM

I've just noticed a bulge on Lady, our dobermann. It is about the size of a ping pong ball and located just behind the ribs on her side.

I have touched it and it feels soft and pliable and does not appear to cause her discomfort although I have refrained from prodding too hard. She has no other symptoms currently and seems happy in herself.

Obviously I will make an appointment with the vet tomorrow but it is rather worrying. It has appeared suddenly I think. I was not aware of it until a few minutes ago and its not the kind of thing that would go unnoticed for long.

I'm wondering if it could be some type of hernia.

Burnden Babe · #2 08-02-2010, 09:12 PM

We had a lab that had a few of these. They were diagnosed as fatty deposits and we harmless but better to have it checked

Shepiers · #3 08-02-2010, 09:47 PM

Did they disappear again? Hopefully its innocent but she is a lean fit dog and it is very noticeable. Do you know how the fatty deposits came about? She is not yet two years old either.

Burnden Babe · #4 09-02-2010, 05:57 PM

No they didn't go and we left them alone as they didn't bother her. I think one had to be removed as it was so big. Not sure how they came about as I was only a teenager at the time and my parents used to do the whole vet thing.

Have you seen the vet yet?

Shepiers · #5 09-02-2010, 07:17 PM

No - I've got an appointment for tomorrow morning. She is still not displaying any other symptoms which I guess is one good thing.

I've seen other dogs that have developed what has been described as fatty lumps but think they developed gradually, but I may be wrong. This is a considerable size and just appeared so suddenly. Maybe a cyst or an abcess?

Hopefully the vet will shed some light on it tomorrow.

Burnden Babe · #6 09-02-2010, 07:38 PM

Fingers crossed, hope all goes well

Shepiers · #7 10-02-2010, 09:02 PM

Well the vet had a look at Lady today. He said the lump looked and felt unusual. He thinks it could possibly be a tissue reaction to a trauma such as a thorn piercing the skin and to wait a few weeks to see if it disappears.

If it is still there in a few weeks time he will put a needle in and send a sample off for biopsy to investigate further but does not want to interfere with it now as if it is a reaction to something it could cause further problems.