Help! Dog has lump on cheek!

[cluckcluckgirl]

We awoke this morning to find that our 8 year old dog has a half-dollar sized lump on her left jaw near the joint where the jaw meets the skull. I know this isn't the place for all advice on dog injuries, but does anyone know what this could be and if I can heal it from home rather than taking her to a vet?

 

[sourland]

Without a picture, given the rapid onset and location, I would guess the beginning of an abscessed tooth.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Is there anything I can do to heal her of it or does she need vet assistance?

 

[Peaches Lee]

Could be abscessed tooth, or saliva gland. That happened to one of my dogs, he ate a tortilla chip and got a cut from it. It did require a vet visit. You could just monitor and if the swelling gets worse call and make a vet appointment.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Hmm, abscesses can be very painful if that is in fact what it is. It's very difficult to tell without a physical exam in person though. Is it painful for her when you touch it?

In this case, I would suggest a trip to the vet for several reasons. One is that many times and abscess is the body's final attempt at dealing with infection. The infected area is just walled off so it doesn't spread. However, it's not really a great way of doing things. Abscesses can burst, cause pain, or the infection could spread into the jaw or affect multiple teeth. If it is an abscess, draining and treating it early will prevent bigger vet bills later on.

If it is not an abscess, a fine needle aspirate should be taken at the very least to check for abnormal growths. A quick growing lump is sometimes due to bug bites or other irritants, but if all of that is ruled out, a quick growing lump is a concern and should be dealt with early on.

So for peace of mind and early treatment, I would say a trip to the vet would be the best course here. Otherwise it could be a painful few weeks for your dog and not much that can be done at home.