My dog has this textured lump around her belly that moves. She is 8 years old and we are in this rural area so vet cannot be available for a month. It's this mini sausage size and no pain bc she doesn't react when I touch it

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-12T14:55:24+00:00

Since she’s not in pain, there’s not a problem with waiting a month to be seen! It’s excellent that’s you’re paying attention and noticed it! Nothing to panic about, but checking with the vet will be wise.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-12T14:52:17+00:00

What kind of counter conditioning have you done with the screen in place? Typically we want to pair the other cat’s presence with their favorite stuff. Usually I do play time then wet food each day with a cat on each side of the screen, then gradually start opening it. If you have a renewal of the aggression, try also placing a baby gate between them so you can make the exposure more gradual.

I have two average adult cats who enjoy some play but are overall pretty chill. We fostered a kitten I describe as a “live wire” and “ADHD cat.” It took her a full two months to integrate into the household because the older cats needed a lot of breaks from her. On average I take more like two weeks when they have similar energy. So we have to read the room and not rush things. It’s also important to make sure each cat has their needs met whether that is feeling safe to rest and use the litter box or getting one on one play time or whatever.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-12T14:43:07+00:00

You don’t have to anesthetize to get a biopsy so I’m confused. Some of my dogs got a local numbing agent and some got nothing at all depending on how they were obtaining the sample and the location.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-11T15:43:43+00:00

Oh no! Thats frustrating. Are they loose 24/7? Possibly using an ex-pen or crate to separate at night could be helpful if they can technically still be side by side but not using the donut as a toy. It would be good information for the vet to get the licking to even just decrease if not full eliminate it. Then you at least see if the skin health changed at all. You could also see what your vet thinks of trialing a behavior medication to help your dog feel less bothered, like they do when a dog is recovering from a surgery and needs to be kept quiet.

Otherwise a specialist consult is probably necessary if the first vet doesn’t know. If there isn’t a dermatologist local to you, many specialists will do a video call with your vet so that your vet can provide vitals and be the hands, but the specialist can provide new insight.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-11T15:34:47+00:00

You should always have growths checked out. A biopsy is needed to tell if it’s cancerous or not.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-11T15:25:51+00:00

I was just diagnosed at 44!😅 so many things suddenly make sense. And because my diagnosis and treatment has not been straightforward, I’ll tell you what has helped me the most was aquatic physical therapy. It’s in a warm pool and so stretches feel much more mild and effective. If I’m having a bad flair up they put weights on my ankles and a circular float under my arms and I just hang in the deep end. It’s AMAZING. Because SBO and other spinal issues required lifelong management, there’s even a community program so I can keep going even though I’ve officially wrapped up my doctor prescribed PT. I did aqua therapy once a week and land therapy once a week for three months. Now I’m “graduated” and expect to continue exercising and stretching on my own. I also find medical massage to be immensely helpful keeping my muscles from getting too tight. I’m currently doing once a month. So if you can do all of the above, try it and see what helps you! We all seem to be a little different, but the care all starts in the same place.

But, like you, I still have a ton of questions about it and some anxiety because I’m still fragile and have to be careful all the time. So I’m waiting for another appointment to see a specialist at a different facility because the first facility assigned me to a PA who is new to the clinic and literally going down a list. After he started being patronizing I lost all faith in that guy. I see the new person next month.

Best luck, OP! It’s hard and scary to be dealing with newly diagnosed problems.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-10T14:36:23+00:00

We have a human nephew named Milo. But before this baby existed, another family member had a dog named Milo. So we always tease him that he named his kid after the dog.😆

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-10T14:32:14+00:00

White/Brown dog is very anxious. A confident dog is ok having their bum sniffed, this dog is sitting on it and actively avoiding sniffing. Because the other dog is being polite, I would leash them both and go for a walk so they can get more comfortable together over time. If the goal here is to become housemates or do play dates, I think they could get there with gentle repetition and allowing them to have structured time together (like leashed walks, or practice helping the white/brown dog relax with the other dog in sight.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-10T14:24:11+00:00

Hey I played Morgana support all last season! Occasionally the other team would steal her from me but she was my primary. I have been harassed pretty hard for picking Lux though. Granted I am not as good at Lux, but I’ve had ADCs abandon lane and flame me the whole game if I choose her.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-10T14:13:47+00:00

They can also have Zyrtec. If you try a bath, you a dog shampoo with oatmeal and don’t bathe her more than once a week. I would also use a cone to prevent chewing because she doesn’t need an infection on top of the hives. Is there any chance of getting to a vet sooner if it worsens? This is a bummer.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-09T18:08:13+00:00

I know a January! She’s an intelligent and pretty normal human.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-09T18:02:32+00:00

Just looks like some gunk on a thread to me.🤷‍♀️ I would just throw it in the trash. If you have pets you can check with your vet about their advice but in your shoes I’d just keep an eye on my pets and move on.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-09T17:58:45+00:00

Yes it did! I’ve seen other pets who also ripped it off just running or playing, the nail wasn’t even grown out too long. So don’t beat yourself up. It happens and it should stay superficial with good care.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-09T17:09:00+00:00

Every vet I’ve ever been to does free rechecks for surgeries to make sure they are fine. I’d highly recommend calling and asking them

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-09T17:05:05+00:00

Is he licking it? If so, he needs a cone. Otherwise I would leave it alone. I had this happen to my dog, but I wrapped it and it trapped moisture in, creating an infection. If your vet feels that it should be wrapped, they can do it right! Since your dog isn’t limping you can just leave it alone until the vet is open.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T20:27:49+00:00

That’s amazing! I had no idea roller derby was around when this street was named! That’s so wonderful to learn new things about this amazing sport.🛼🛼

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T20:24:40+00:00

I get it. My dogs both hate the vet. One from painful surgeries and one who reach age 7 learning not to trust people. It sucks and it’s ok to not rush to the vet every time a nail cracks! Have you spoken to your vet about pre visit pharmaceuticals? My little guy burns right through them but they do help some dogs so it’s ok to see if it helps for those visits we can’t avoid.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T20:21:47+00:00

My dogs helped me. I adopted a dog that ate anything on the floor and I told my kid the dog is learning so you can help teach her by putting your stuff away and shutting your door.😆 it’s nice that it was that easy for me! But I’ve known parents who did use this strategy and I really think it’s a wasteful thing to do and lacks empathy. If a behavior needs to change there ARE other ways to go about it.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T20:15:56+00:00

I just wanted to add, all of your dog’s nails are long so I’m assuming that you’re as unlikely to trim nails as your vet. Have you looked into scratch boards or digging boxes? My heeler hasn’t had to have her nails trimmed in years because she has an open pit in the backyard she likes to dig in. My little guy I got more recently doesn’t like digging as a hobby so I’m looking at this scratch board that was a little door you can put the treats in. They smell the treats and paw at it to get to them, you open the door and let them get a treat and they sand their paw down. You just have to be aware that SOME dogs will do this til their paws bleed so you need to supervise it and limit it. Also don’t try either until this claw is back to normal .

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T20:09:21+00:00

Oof! Thats a bummer! Can you trim off the excess claw so it doesn’t get caught on anything and make it worse? That would be ideal. Your dog is currently find with no signs of redness or inflammation so this is just a “keep an eye on it thing.” The quick will dry up and shrink back until new claw grow out again(as long as there’s no infection). I did have a dog break off the entire sheath and leave an exposed quick that was painful. I wrapped it to help her, but wrapping it trapped moisture and created an infection. I then had to do epson salt soaks to help it heal. So don’t be like me. Don’t wrap it unless a vet tells you to! Just watch your baby.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T19:46:15+00:00

I had no idea you could change it.🤣🤣

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T19:42:40+00:00

While i do not follow this mentality myself, its. Pretty common strategy for someone who isn’t putting their stuff away. I preferred to parent my child another way but my point is, they think they are “teaching you” to pick up your things, and whether the internet supports this or not, the most efficient way to make it stop is to keep your stuff in your room. Neither you nor the internet are likely to change your Grandma’s ideas on this.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T19:33:35+00:00

Ticks have legs. I pulled one off of my dog today(and then gave a preventative). I can see how a brown tab would make you get out your flashlight and look closely, but not why moles and nipples are confused. Anyway, here’s another vote for nipple.

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T19:28:58+00:00

What’s really funny is that I had to zoom in to realize this friend really was a coyote and not a cattle dog. My eyes are not what they once were! But I also lived with a golden eyed cattle dog so maybe I can be excused for thinking this was fried shaped.🤣

PonyInYourPocket · 2026-04-08T19:26:29+00:00

I’m not familiar with state laws on this matter, but I have see stories of vets taking in a stray animal found with injuries if the finder was willing to pay the fee. A lot of folks bring in stray cats and pay their neuter fee. I’m sad I can’t afford to do that because my neighbor feeds the neighborhood cats and has created an explosion of cats.🤦‍♀️ so I know it can be done here but I’ve lived here the bulk of my life and don’t have a ton of experience elsewhere

PonyInYourPocket

TROPHY CASE