Q. I have a large breed dog for about a year now and I've noticed tonight that there's a lump/bump on his chest. What can it be? The lump doesn't seem to bother him much and he's behavior seems fine. I am very concern and do not wish to take him in the Vet because of his bad temper for unknown people. Please let me know what it  can be and what should I do? You can reply to this email address. Thank you.

A. Unfortunately I can’t even hazard a guess as to what the bump might be without seeing your dog. But I would recommend you schedule an appointment with a veterinarian for him and make sure you let them know that he does not like strangers. Don’t worry, they will know how to handle him. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, you can schedule an appointment at our Oakland clinic by calling 510-569-1606.

Q. My dog doesn't seem to be himself. Should I be concern? Seems to want to sleep  most of the time or just lay down. He seemed fine Saturday. But Saturday night he just slept and this morning. Any suggestions?

A. I would definitely recommend you schedule an appointment for your puppy with your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you feel that he does not seem himself and he is sleeping more than normal, he may be sick. Your veterinarian can check for an infection or other causes of illness.

Q. Over the past few weeks I have noticed that my cat Barnum's two top fangs are cutting into his chin.  He looks very uncompfortable and I don't know what to do.  He is approximately 15 years old.

A. What you are describing sounds like a problem called supereruption which frequently occurs in older cats with periodontal disease. You should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for an oral exam as soon as possible.