My dog keeps licking a lump. What's causing it and what can I do?

Poor girl. Because this mass is open and seems to be bothering her I would highly consider having this mass removed surgically. Sometimes if the mass is small (less than 2 cm's) we can do a sedative on the pet and quickly remove these. However if it is a larger mass then general anesthesia may be required. She also needs to be placed on oral antibiotics to keep this area from getting infected and daily cleaning of the mass as well. Sterile saline flushes can help keep this area relatively clean and then an e-collar placed on her can help prevent licking. If surgery isn't an option for you, then medical management with antibiotics, e-collar and regular cleanings may allow proper healing of the area, but in most cases surgical removal is the best option. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This could be just an infection though I am suspicious that there is a growth underneath causing this. 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. This is severe and no home remedies are expected to improve this. 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!

It sounds as though this lump bothers Avery quite a bit since he keeps licking it. The lump could be caused by a benign or malignant mass, cyst, etc. and may have become infected due to Avery's licking. At this point, there isn't anything that you can do at home. A vet should examine Avery and will likely need to perform a fine needle aspirate (using a needle to draw out a few cells from the mass - it's quick and relatively painless!) so that the sample can be examined microscopically. From there, Avery may need oral antibiotics to treat any infection. Until you can take him to the vet, put an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further licking and irritation of the lump. Try to avoid putting any additional hydrogen peroxide on the lump, as repeated use can delay healing. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively! The lump could be a benign or malignant growth. 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 day!

If conventional treatment has not prevented Lacy from getting at the mass, then have her seen by your veterinarian. She may need to have it surgically removed. Once that is done, it can be submitted for pathology to make sure it isn't anything to worry about. It could be a benign skin mass (sebaceous adenoma) that is common in older dogs. Removing it does not guarantee it will not regrow or keep others from popping up.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect this is a skin mass It could also be chronically infected and inflamed skin, but it is less likely. A visit at your local vets is recommended to make the definite diagnosis (taking aspirates of the lesion may be necessary) and to start treatment for Coco. If it is a skin mass, surgical excision may be the only treatment option. Unfortunately, there is not much that you can do at home to help Coco.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These do not go away on their own. Even though they are benign, sometimes we have them removed palliatively if they bothering the patient. If any of these seems to be bothering him, I would consider having him evaluated to have at least some of them removed if they are bothering him. Good luck and have a great day!