dog help needed

[FairyOnTheChristmasTree]

My darling dog is 15 yrs old. He is my baby. He has had a lump grow on the side of his snout and it is the size of a grape so huge on a dog of his breed (he's a yorkshire terrier). I'm taking him to the vet on Thursday but any ideas of what it can be and any ideas of how much a diagnosis costs at the vets these days?

how fast has it grown?
is it soft or hard?
can it be moved slightly / does it wobble?
does it look like a big wart?
does it bleed or is it crusty around the base of the lump?

im not a vet but did train as a veterinary nurse before i had children. about 5 years ago a consult from my practice was £15 but i think it may now be in the region of about £20 then extra for treatment etc. if you yorkie doesnt seem bothered by it then at his age i would be inclined to leave it, unless it is affecting him somehow (sight/eating) if he was to need an anaesthetic there is a special type for older dogs, it is more expensive but worth it. they wake up quicker and are lighter under the anaesthetic.
are you able to go to a rspca or pdsa clinic? they will be cheaper than your normal vets but i think you have to be on some type of benefit to get treatment from them.

Had two lumps cut off my springer this year at cost of £230 but as www says if it's nothing serious and not bothering him just leave it. I'll keep fingers crossed that it's nothing.

hi worley, thanks so much for your post. it's lovely getting a professional view. Do you think I shouldn't take him to the vets then? He's not bothered at all by it seemingly - he ate all his dinner as usual and even came over for a play and a tickle which is quite rare for him in his old age! He's been wagging his tail all evening jumping up at me and just been generally fine.

i think if your worried then take him for your own peace of mind. is he a fit and active 15year old? or does he have any bumps anywhere else? it depends how quick its grown, if its been slow growning then i would probably leave him. this may sound silly- but could it be tic if it is fast growing? it may seem silly but i have seen it before!! or just a warty thing?

Hi Worley, thanks for your reply. Since he's aged he does love nothing more than cuddling up for a sleep or just to laze around all day but he walks around and enjoys life. I think he's just taking his old age in his stride. The lump has been just slightly raised from the side of his snout for some time now but it wasn't something I was overly concerned about as he didn't seem to know it was there but since today I have seen it has gone the size of a grape and it is very red, almost looks as if blood is inside it? He is seemingly fine within himself though and at this present time he is trying to cop off with my bitch who is currently on heat! I think I will take him to the vet just to put my mind at rest. I've done nothing but cry tonight over it. I've had 15 fabulous years out of him and I really cannot imagine life without him. He is my life and i'm terrified of him dying although I do know 15 years is a long life for his breed.

He doesn't have any other lumps anywhere else except the top of snout leading from his face to his nose is very pigmented whereas it used to be all black, kind of velvety to the touch but now it's just pigmented skin.

hi,
i think taking him to see the vet for your wn peace of mind is a good idea. i have seen yorkies live for about 19-19 years, all be it with only a couple of teeth and get a bit wobbly on their legs but they are still happy. let me know what the vets says? but im sure it will be fine.

Hello Worley, we visted the vet today. He was such a good boy. The vet said it could be a growth and has put him on medication for 5 days. She says if it is still the same I can take him back and they will do blood tests for cancer and then surgery to remove the lump The thing is, he's really happy in himself, doesn't seem at all stressed by it. I don't think I would let them perform surgery at his age. They otherwise said is in excellent shape for his age, apart from his blindness and he has really dirty teeth which they will sort when he has the blood test. I couldn't take much in but I think they said the blood test would be in the region of around £60...does that seem correct to you? Thanks for all your support. Going to treat him to a yummy sausage from the chippy this afternoon!

hi fairy, thats probably right, it was about £40 6 years ago in mine for the basic tests, but it will help give you peace of mind. the prices also differ depending on your area for some reason?

the teeth idea is a good one, some yorkies get really bad teeth, and once they are all cleaned up again its amazing the difference it makes, not to mention nicer breath!!