Possibly coming to the end.

[AtYourCervix]

DDog is 13. He's got lots of lumps all over, including one right next to his bottom. That one is growing and today it looks like it is breaking through the skin.
A few months ago we decided it was best to not treat but to wait and see what happens. He's quite cheerful still but when I bathed it just now it is sore and oozing.
He's had extra months but I'm still not ready.

Im sorry atyour lots of hairy hugs for you. I really dont think we are ever ready, even when our beloved dogs are.

I have never been ready - even though I have known it is the kindest and best for my dog/s and they are such a huge part of our life.

Any chance the lumps are benign and are 'old age' lumps and that he has just had a good ole scratch and its got infected;the one near his bottom?

I would be taking him to your vet for a sensible discussion. It's perfectly normal, and non threatening for fatty lumps to form on some breeds of elderly dogs. On the other hand, if it is a serious condition, your vet needs to be advising on how to make him as comfortable as possible, and if nothing else the infection needs to be looked at. Even (and especially) if you are at the palliative care stage, you still need to actively manage it, whether that is pain relief or whatever else you and your vet decide between you.

If it is his time, then you will be so much happier afterwards knowing that you did everything you possibly could to make his last days with you, peaceful, painfree and comfortable. You can also start to have a discussion with your vet about options for the end of life - including things like where and when, and options for afterwards. It can often help ease those last times if you have already made some of the important choices.

But it's never easy. Wishing you all the best.

Thanks.

Most his lumps are old-age non sinister ones. This isn't. It doesn't look infected. Just sore, but of course he's licking at it so may well get infected. He's has painkillers for the spinal degenerative thing he also has and is cheerful, bouncy and normal.
I'll be phoning the vet today though.