Golf balls are usually made out of rubber or foam and have a golf ball inside of them. These balls are very durable and long lasting, making them a great way to practice your golf shots.
But they can be hard to tell if the ball is removed or not. Most foam and rubber golf balls have a white spot on the bottom that you can pull up when shooting.
The top looks like a regular ball with no markings on it. These top-mounted golf balls are unique because you must put your tee in place before shooting which requires a different technique.
What is a dog lump?
A lump is what is called a “dog golf ball”. A dog lump is named after the size of the ball that comes out of their neck.
The ball is called a lump because it looks like a small stone or chunk of rock. These stones move when the dog pulls its nose up to suck in the ball.
This action moves it upward, then sideways, then down again! It must work hard to get this tinyball back in its neck!
These stones are very hard and resistant, so they must stay where they are until you need them. Other dogs might try to take them but you can prevent that by putting them away or hiding them.
When your dog pulls his/her body backward to throw the ball, this can cause a bone to break or muscle to tear. If this happens, do not worry! The vet can put something soft and stretchable on it to heal it.
Dog cancers
The ball is very large, almost like a softball or baseball. It can be hard for your dog to handle.
A golf ball size can be either large or small according to the size of your dog. Very small dogs may need a smaller golf ball due to their mobility.
For example, a miniature dog may need a golf ball between 5–10% of its size due to mobility issues. A standard-sized dog may need a 20–25% cosmetic sized golf ball due to its consistency in distance and nonfunctioning if it is outside during the spring and summer seasons.
The other 10% of the time, the smaller dog may be forced to use a paint or marker-style golf ball. These require more strength and consistency in hitting to look proper on stage or during an event.
Symptoms of a dog lump
Golf balls are not the only thing that can look like a lump. Other symptoms of a dog lump include:
Lump back or stick up neck
Dogs with lots of lump back or stick up neck may have this as a symptom.
When this happens, the dog has to sit or lie down on his own. He must be put under professional care to diagnose and treat it.
Putt-n-goos may be involved, as well as bone deep tissue damage. All of these things must be ruled out before surgery is considered.
Surgery is the best treatment for dogs with this condition. It can be risky, however, if surgery is not done. When it is time for your dog to go home, they must have a fresh start.
Causes of a dog lump
Golf balls are typically round, with a diameter of about half a globe. They can be shaped either as eggs or square.
If your dog has a golf ball–sized lump, it can happen in several sizes. The bigger ones are more noticeable because they are larger.
Smaller ones may not cause any symptoms, making it hard to diagnose. However, if it grows in size and is difficult to remove, it may be indicative of a more serious health issue.
If your dog does not show signs of tennis ball– or golf ball–size lumps, you may miss something sooner.
Check with your vet immediately
If your dog gets a golf ball sized lump on its neck, you need to get it checked by your vet. This is usually done by pinning the lump down with a sharp needle and taking a blood test to confirm it is an abscess.
A abscess is where tissue dies and grows back together, but this time as a pocket where fluid can collect. Abscesses can be painful, so getting it checked as soon as possible is important.
If your dog has another one nearby, let them be until the new one is healed enough for you to take him out of bed and activity. He may also need to stay in the veterinarian’s care for some time until they fix the first one.
Take pictures before removal
If you do not have a golf ball size guideline, then try to take a picture of your dog’s neck with its collar on. This can be helpful if you have to return the dog to the breeder for an adjustment or transfer.
A small golf ball may not appear too big, but it can be when it is placed in the body cavity. A large one may look like a pea sized object. weigh more than your dog!
Some dogs get larger during growth or when they are diagnosed with a certain condition. Other times, dogs just appear bigger than they really are.
Dog lumps are removed by your vet
When a dog ball is too big, it can become difficult for them to get in and out of the house or outside to play. This can be a problem because they may need to go every time they exercise or play.
If your dog does not want to go potty on the bed or floor, then you must remove the golf ball size dog lump. This is critical as the puppy needs to learn how to poop in a potty system at this age.
You also have to watch how long the puppy goes when it does poo, as some dogs stay dry longer than others. If your dog has a lot of hair around their lump, it can make it stay wet longer.
When I took my puppies home, I never tried removing the lump until they were old enough for potty training.
Pathology results will tell you whether to be concerned or not
The golf ball sized lump may be called a thorax, a balloon like shape that surrounds a baby dog. These occur when two dogs are physically close for an extended period of time.
The Arcadia dog averages about one to two years of life, so this is not an issue faced by older dogs.
If you are concerned, your Arcadia dog should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible to rule out other issues such as testicular atrophy or congenital failure to produce sperm.
Viruses and medical conditions can cause testicles to fail to grow and function, so an examination from a veterinarian is the only way to find the problem.
Because of the risk of testicular cancer in dogs, having your Arcadia dog checked by a vet is key before any symptoms arise.
