Kodah's Enormous Furry Lump: Should Dr. Karyn Be Worried?

Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

If you’ve never had to worry about a lump on your dog, then I don’t think you’ve ever had a dog. From tiny to large, cancerous to benign, all dogs will invariably end up with one lump or many over the course of their life. The tricky part is knowing which ones to worry about. The frustrating answer is that in most cases, without at least having a vet take a look or a proper examination of cells under the microscope, it is often impossible to say for sure which lumps need to be dealt with urgently, and which ones are suitable for a ‘wait and see’ approach.

The other day, I was quite startled to see an enormous furry lump protruding from Kodah’s derriere. Fortunately, in this particular instance, I didn’t need to perform any tests to determine the nature of the lump, because that lump is a Chihuahua called Ned.

Who Are You Calling A Lump?

One of my favorite things about my little dog pack is the way the tiniest member has positioned himself – both literally and figuratively – at the top of the heap. There is nothing quite like watching an 80-lb Malinois Shepherd being put in his place by a 4-lb Chihuahua, without even a hint of resistance. After all, in canine society, it's not the size of your body that matters, but the size of your ego, and Ned has plenty to go around!

A Confused Lump

What’s interesting about the dynamics of our dog family is how they seem to shift and change, usually depending largely on Ned’s mood. One minute he’s launching himself across the room, yelling at Kodah for having the audacity to glance at this food bowl, the next minute he’s literally curled up under his tail; talk about feeling secure in your position! What is most consistent in this dynamic is that Kodah seems to be equally happy when being told off, stood on, or snuggled up to; he is just thrilled to be included in whichever capacity Ned, and his trusty offsider, Fred, sees fit.

The Lump Keeps Coming Back

Despite Ned’s short fuse when it comes to Kodah, no matter how many times he detaches himself, he is a lump that just keeps coming back. When all the noise and posturing have finished and the games are at an end, Ned loves to curl up against or on top of Kodah. The relationship between these dogs, little and large, is comparable to that of brothers, always fighting and making up, only to start all over again. And although Kodah is older by more than 12 months, not to mention heavier by more than 70 lbs, his role seems to be very much the one of ‘little brother,’ desperate for approval, just wanting to be part of the game. And if that means playing host to a benign little Ned-shaped lump, he’s only too happy to oblige.

The thing I find most comforting is knowing that the only way Kodah would ever harm his tiny friends is accidentally, and it seems that Ned knows it, too. This is one lump that neither Kodah or I are worried about, which is lucky because it is a lump that is not going away!