My dog has a back lump and smelly discharge. Should I worry?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Is that supposed to be the same growth in both photos? The growth if the first photo looks suspicious for a malignant tumor. The tissue around the mass is swollen and the mass itself is raised and ulcerated; both can be signs of a malignancy. I cannot tell you for sure though just by looking at a photo. The second photo looks like a benign wart. In general, any new lumps/bumps should be examined by your vet. The first photo looks worrisome and I think you should have it checked in the next few days.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From the picture you provided and knowing that Lucy is a young dog, this is likely nothing to be concerned about. It appears as though this may be a pustule and that she may have a bit of a skin infection in that area. This can commonly occur in females that have extra skin folds around the vulva which it does appear that Lucy does have some excess skin around the area where urine could potentially become trapped. I would recommend using a topical medication called zymox topical ointment. If this bump is from a skin infection then I would expect it to resolve in about 7 to 14 days with topical treatment. Once this resolves, I would recommend keeping her private area clean using malacetic conditioning spray. If more bumps begin to show up or this bump persists or worsens then I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at this for further testing and treatment recommendations. Lucy may need to be put on an oral antibiotic in addition to topical therapy to treat this. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns that you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Chances are that this is a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts are usually harmless, sack-like growths with a lining that is not cancerous. In dogs, most cysts develop from hair follicles. These cysts typically appear as single, clearly defined, firm or soft lumps located in the skin or just beneath it. They are often between 0.5 to 5 centimetres in size and may sometimes have a bluish colour. A cyst can release a thick, gray-to-yellow-brown cheesy substance if it bursts. Other terms for sebaceous cysts in dogs include infundibular or follicular cysts. The lump needs to have a fine needle aspirate (FNA)/cytology to be sure of that diagnosis. Here is a link about the procedure and why it is done. It does not require anesthesia. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cytology-fine-needle-aspiration-fna ) If it is a sebaceous cyst, it will be very obvious once the vet introduces the needle into the lump. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Pika. From the picture, and given her age, I would suspect this is a benign tumor or possibly a cyst. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. I'd give her vet a call in the morning to make her an appointment. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello. This looks like a possible infected hair follicle of sebaceous gland infection. It is probably not dangerous, especially since your dog is still quite young. I would gently clean the area with something like Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ) & if it seems to be getting worse, bothering your dog, or begins to ooze, please see your vet as soon as possible. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. These could also be abscesses based on your description. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have Saffie evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!