My dog has a raw, non-bleeding knot on her elbow. What can I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Gypsie has this going on. I'm concerned that a bleeding, hard lump could be a skin tumor in Gypsie. If she is an older dog a skin tumor is a little more likely. She could also have a pressure sore or infection causing this issue. If you post a picture of the knot it may be helpful so we can provide more advice. There's a good chance that Gypsie may need to see a veterinarian to address this issue but it's hard to say without a better description or a picture. Definitely consider an exam with your veterinarian as I'm concerned if this lump continues to bleed it may get infected or cause more issues. Please consider posting a detailed description or picture so that I can help provide you more advice. Thanks again and regards to you and Gypsie!

This may be an abscess, cyst or a tumor. You should have it examined by your veterinarian as tumors should be removed ASAP,. An abscess can usually be treated with antibiotics and/or be lanced, and a cyst can be evacuated. Your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.

Poor Gidget! Without being able to see it in person, it is difficult to say for sure. I would have your vet take a look at it since it is hairless. It is likely just a fatty tumor but I have seen a malignant type of skin tumor called a mast cell tumor look like that. Granted, we do have to keep in mind her age. You may decide just to keep her comfortable and make sure the area doesn't get infected and that isn't a wrong decision either. Your vet will be able to determine whether or not it is malignant and also make sure the part that is bleeding isn't going to get infection. A dog her age would have a hard time getting over an infection if left untreated. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Thanks for the pictures! Many skin masses can look the same. Red dermal masses, like this one, can be benign or malignant. Some possibilities are an inflamed sebaceous adenoma, hemangioma, histiocytoma or it could be a Mast Cell Tumor. Since it showed up quickly I would have Oscar seen by your Vet. They can decide if aspirating it (sticking it with a needle and sending the slides to the lab) or removing the mass and sending it for biopsy is best. I hope this helps and I wish you and Oscar the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Leahlah! It's hard to tell from just looking at a mass what it is exactly. I can tell that the area around it is inflamed. There are benign masses (hemangioma) that can form on the skin and bleed. It also could just be infected. There are also masses that can be cancerous. I recommend that you clean the area gently with mild soap and water twice daily then apply a triple antibiotic cream. If the area doesn't start to improve by early next week, I would have it looked at. Some local SPCA's have low cost veterinary clinics. You can call your local shelters and see if they offer them. I hope this helps and I wish you and Leahlah the best!

Sorry to hear that Didis is having these issues. Based on the photo, that appears to be some sort of mass that is now ulcerating. The area should be treated as if it were an open wound that is infected, and thus, she should be receiving antibiotics orally. The only way to obtain these will be with a veterinary examination and a prescription. If this is not possible, the best thing you can do is shave the hair that is surrounding the lesion, scrub the area with dilute betadine or chlorhexidine, and keep it as clean as possible. You can also apply something topically to the lesion such as triple antibiotic, though his may or may not be effective. Do not bandage or cover the area, as this will only serve to trap bacteria into the area. Hope this helps.

I would recommend that you have this little mass checked out by a vet, but I would not consider it an emergency. You could wait until Monday if your vet is not open. If Nala is scratching and causing it to bleed, you may need to have her wear an e-collar to prevent further damage. It could be a histiocytoma, but a vet would need to get a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope to rule out other types of tumors that can look similar. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1676