Swollen Nipple

Question
My dog is 10 years old. She was spayed as a puppy and has never been in heat. About 1 month ago I noticed that one of her nipples was inflamed. I felt it and it felt almost like a fatty tumor, which she has 2 others. I took her to the vet and he was able to get some fluid out with a needle and saw that the fluid inside had skin cells and white blood cells in it. Put her on antibiotics for about 1 week. It seemed to shrink a little, but never fully went away. I looked at it again today and noticed it was about the same. The cyst is not hard and sort of squishy. It doesn't hurt her when I touch or put pressure on it. There is no cut or scab. Nothing is coming out of her nipple. She is eating and acting fine. The vet did mention about having it removed if it didn't clear up. I really didn't want to go that route as she is old and has hip problems. He said she would need additional blood test due to her older age.
Any ideas? He mentioned tumor.

Answer
Personally if it were my dog I would have it removed. She should have some pre-op blood work but if he is a good vet and fast, she won't be under long anyway. He can remove any others that look suspect while she is out.

Maybe he could just sedate her and use a local and remove it that way if you are really worried about the anesthetic.

One good thing is it doesn't sound like a mammary tumor. Those form more in the skin around the nipples and they are almost always hard and nodule like- not soft and squishy. It is very uncommon for a dog spayed that young to get them. Especially since she never had a heat. That was a good thing on your part.

So talk to him about these alternatives such as sedation and a local and see what he says.

If he says it won't hurt to leave it also, then leave it. But it sounds as if it should come off.