Thats all the way tomorrow tho. Today is today. He is hurting and you are neglecting his McDonalds hamburger needs.

 

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It has probably been there a while. I wouldn't freak out, just call and make an appointment when your vet resumes normal office hours.

Good luck

Larger and older dogs develop a fatty mass sometimes. Totally benign and most vets wont even deal with it other than to just get the owner to relax and keep an occasional eye on it. I am betting it is one of those masses and not the ones you are dreading. Make the appointment with the vet but be prepared to hopefully be relieved when the vet takes about 30 secs looking at it and tells you all is ok.

Some pics of our Griff.


He's about 5 years old here- that's my oldest sitting next to him. They're the same age, to the month and everything (we got him when he was almost exactly 1 year old). They are best buds. When she goes to school in the morning (or when she goes anywhere) he will lay down by the front door and won't move from that spot until she gets home. He has never been a barking dog but he will bark outside her bedroom door if it's shut at night and he can't get in to lay beside her bed. If my husband is tickling her or wrestling with her, Griff will get right up there all worried-like. He won't actually get in the middle of anything (he's very non-dominant) but his expression is all like "hey...what's going on? I'm not sure I'm ok with this. What are you doing to my buddy? Is she ok??" He has the most expressive eyebrows, it's funny and awesome.


I don't remember what he did to earn the cone of shame here, but he was not very happy with us lol. Probably to keep him from licking at his hot spots. In fact, I need to get a new cone of shame, because he's started licking at those spots again.


This was a couple years ago when we were in NJ. He is standing upright in all that snow and he was having the time of his life. He loves snow only one degree less than he loves water.

 

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He's probably afraid of that fire haired child.

 

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One of my weenie dogs had a tumor when she was about 12 years old. Our vet removed it and she was fine. It was pretty large for such a small dog too. Hope it isn't something serious Gaevy.

 

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If the lump is soft and movable, more than likely it is a lipoma which are benign and basically painless unless it's pushing up against something.

 

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The benign ones are pretty common in older dogs, it's probably nothing.

Also your dog makes me want a golden retriever. Have you had any problems with hips?

I worked with enough of the oldies at the vet that you had to carry around in a sling that they got pushed off my list for best dog breed. Man are those expressive eyes heart wrenching when they're looking at you all ashamed they can't walk.

They are so so sweet and wonderful though. Anyway, hopefully it's nothing and you'll have a lot more good years.

 

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they're very expensive, but they operate just like a reg vet does. they're just open 24/7 and have more specialists. i've had to use them for their 24/7 care for my dogs 3 times.

 

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He really is the most amazing dog.

We haven't had any hip trouble so far. That isn't very helpful though- he's not an American Golden, he's a German Golden, and they haven't had the over-breeding and puppy mill problems that are so common here. Hip problems are pretty common amongst most large breeds though, aren't they?

He does have a touch of arthritis but none of the signs or symptoms of hip issues. No bunny hopping, he still gets up and down the stairs just fine and walks around no problem, no limping, and the only time he has trouble getting up from laying down is when he's on a tile surface- though of course that's his favorite place to lay down because it's cooler than the carpet

That isn't to say he'll never have hip problems but he's been very fortunate so far, especially considering his age.

 

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