'help! :( very worried'

ursula (86.40.253.99) -

Hi everyone. Today I was just rubbing my dog Mandy's belly and i felt a lump just by her ribs. shes about 11 or 12 years old (but doesnt act it at all- still has the energy of a 6 or 7 year old dog). Shes a mongrel, a funny lookin little thing, she has the face and the fur of a sheep dog, but the physique of a bassett hound. She has never had any serious health problems in her life or never hit by a car or anything like that! we got her from our local animal welfare about 10 years ago(we were told she was about a year old when we got her). Nothing in her diet has changed recently! we feed her dry food (those nuts you can get) and whatever scraps we have! she isnt acting off form at all, and is in an expectionally good mood today after i washed her (she hasnt had a wash in a while because the weather hasnt been warm enough until the last week and we were worried about her catching a pneumonia or something). She even looks younger and healthier. I see her eyes are starting to glaze over a bit but im pretty sure thats just age catching up with her as her sight seems to be perfect. My car is bust at the moment and our vet lives far enough away. The soonest i can get her to the vet would be wednesday! im really worried about her, she hasnt been to the vet in a couple of years (she hasnt needed to go)! The lump i found is on her right side (under the skin). It feels like it could be excess tissue or something harmless, but im still really worried about what it could be. I am just writing on this to see if anyone has had a similar discovery with their beloved pet and if it was something to really worry about or maybe just an over reaction to something small! im hoping im over reacting, but i do realise she is an old dog, but i still love her and cant imagine her not being around! thanks for listening :)

Comment #1 ChloeBowie from Twilight Zone, Mississippi (Contact Member) -

It's probably just some sort of stress she's had. If she is older and acting like she's a young dog (jumping everywhere, doing overly exerting things that an older animal doesn't usually, or shouldn't, exert. It's probably kind of like a hernia. If it's rock-solid, however, I'd personally be worried, but if it's just a firmish tissue, I wouldn't worry too much. If it's not causing her any discomfort or acting strangely she's probably fine.

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