My dog has a hard, splitting, growing spot. When to see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. 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 Reese evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be benign or malignant growths. This could even be an infection. This cannot be completely assessed just by looking at pictures or a description and usually requires sampling such as fine needle aspiration to determine its origin. 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 day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a severe focal infection. I recommend you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as this will likely require local therapy with cleaning of the site, pain control medications and antibiotics. Also, your veterinarian could check for a possible underlying cause like allergies, mites or a foreign body reaction. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It's hard to make out where the white object attaches to her skin. Dog and cats can form keratinized horny growths on their skin. I recommend making an appointment with your Vet to have it removed. If it is small enough maybe they can remove it with a local block. I hope this helps and I wish you the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Without seeing a picture of what you are describing it is difficult to say for sure what this could be. I suspect, due to Blue's age, that this could be a viral papilloma, histiocytoma or pimple-like growth. In all 3 cases, it should resolve on its own. It could be something other than these 3 possibilities. If the spot does not resolve or it worsens, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Blue to that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect this is a granuloma or a skin mass. A visit at your local vets is recommended to make the definite diagnosis and to start treatment for your dog. Your vet may have to take a needle aspirate from the lump to find out what kind of growth it is. Alternatively, treatment with steroids and antiseptic solution could be trialed first. If the growth responds to the treatment, it would strongly point towards the diagnosis of granuloma.

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 him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. This is unlikely to be an emergency so it is ok to go to the veterinarian on Saturday unless something changes with him at home and she does not appear to be doing well at some point. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!