My dog has a new raised, dime-sized lump on his skin. What is it?

Ouch! Any new change should always be checked out by your vet, especially if it's different from any other growths seen on the body. Skin tags and other growths can sometimes cause pockets of hair loss like this, however, other issues such as bacterial or fungal infections (like ringworm) can also cause round patches of hair loss like this as well, which need to be treated by a vet. A quick fine-needle aspirate can determine if there are any concerns, and if your vet suspects something bacterial or fungal, it can be treated with oral antibiotics and cleaning of the area. Until you get to your vet, keeping an eye on the spot for any changes in size/shape, and keeping Eddie from licking it can help monitor for changes and reduce the chances of a secondary issue. It's also important to keep the area clean and dry, and thoroughly wash your hands after handling the area as some bacterial/fungal causes can be contagious to people.

With her age I would worry about a ringworm or an infection or mange that is causing that lesion. Ring worm can be contagious to both people and other animals. You can keep Neosporin on the area to keep it clean until you can get to the vet to be checked for sure.

Ajayi's lump looks a bit irregular and to the naked eye looks most like a papilloma, which is a benign wart-like mass. Papillomas are not terribly common in young dogs, but not all dogs read textbooks in what they "should" do! Other possible causes include an irritated insect bite or sting, some healing granulomatous tissue from rough play with one of his housemates, or other benign or malignant masses. Since Ajayi isn't bothered by this lesion, I think it's perfectly reasonable to monitor it at home for changes for now. If it grows or becomes irritated at any point, or is still present in a few weeks, then you should take Ajayi to his vet for further evaluation. Your vet would likely need to perform a fine needle aspirate to draw out some of the cells for microscopic evaluation. I hope that everything goes well!

Hello there! Considering her age and breed, the lump on Skye's head is most likely a benign mass called a histiocytoma. Only a vet can diagnose this for sure, but this is the most likely cause. The mass on the leg may also be a histiocytoma, as the head, face, legs, and feet are the most common locations for them to grow, and if a dog has one, they are more likely to have multiple over their lifetime. A histiocytoma can be unsightly, but they usually go away on their own after a few months. Some owners elect to have them removed if they keep getting scratched or infected, and this is usually curative at that location. There are other conditions that could cause lumps like these (though they are less likely, like a viral infection or cancer), and a visit to your vet will help to determine what that might be. The vet will give Skye a full physical exam, and they will likely take a small sample of cells from within the lumps with a small needle - a procedure called a fine needle aspirate, or FNA. This may not give a definitive diagnosis, but it can be helpful in ruling out more worrisome issues. It can also help the vet decide if the lumps need to come off for further testing, but I'd be surprised if this was the case. I recommend that you take Skye to visit the vet to confirm the lumps' cause, but it's not an emergency. Good luck, and I hope Skye's lumpiness clears up soon!

This looks like it could be an insect bite or sting, or a tick bite if they are in your area. Skin infections can also occasionally start this way. If you start to see more lesions similar to the one above, or if this bump begins to increase in size or have any discharge I would recommend having it examined by your veterinarian. If it is an insect bite it should be gone in the next 7-10 days or so. Monster is a handsome guy!

Portabella’s lesion is quite prominent. It’s possible that it could be an allergic reaction from contacting something, or a benign or malignant growth. Given her young age, a benign mass called a histiocytoma is quite possible. The good news is that these lesions resolve on their own in a few months without treatment. However, the only way to differentiate between different types of skin lesions is some diagnostic testing. There’s certainly no reason to panic or worry yourself, but I do think it would be best to have Portabella examined by your vet. Your vet may want to take some cells from this lesion for microscopic evaluation. I hope that everything goes well!

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Kato! This area could be the result of a variety of things, such as an insect bite, a wound that has becomes infected, an ingrown hair/area of folliculitis, and more. If Kato is acting normally otherwise, you can try cleaning the area with a mild soap and applying a topical antibiotic like neosporin to the area. If it is enlarging in size, if it starts to have a green or yellow discharge, if it isn't getting smaller over a few days, or if Kato starts having lethargy, decreased appetite, pain, or other lesions arise then a trip to the vet is recommended.