My new adopted dog has a spot on his head. Is it a wound or growth?

Thanks for sending in the pictures of Oliver. It is a little difficult for me to make out the pictures, but it appears like he has a small skin growth on his head that has scabbed over. I would gently clean the scab and dried blood away with a warm wash cloth. If there is a flesh colored growth it may be a wart like mass. They are common in many dogs as they age. If he has been scratching at his head, then it could be self trauma secondary to his allergies. If it bothers him or does not resolve, then have your veterinarian evaluate him.

If this just appears to be a crusted area and is not raised, it is possible this was an insect bite that got irritated or a small scratch/wound. If the lesion is raised (I can't really tell from the appearance) then we sometimes get warty skin growths that can get traumatized and bleed/crust over. I would wash the area with a mild soap or Hibiclens (available at most drug stores) and apply a topical antibiotic like Polysporin or Neosporin a few times day. If she is scratching/rubbing at the area she may need an e-collar for a few days to stop self-trauma. If the lesions isn't improving after several days of this or it starts to get larger/other spots appear then these would be reasons to seek veterinary care.

Congratulations on your new pet! I can see the small pink, raised lump on Cora's chin. This can be caused by a localized skin infection or a small growth. I recommend keeping a close eye on it, and keeping the area clean. You can get Cora an E-collar or "cone" if she is scratching the area. If the area grows in size, Cora appears bothered by it, or it begins to have discharge or bleeding, Cora should be seen by a vet. You can apply a small amount of neosporin a few times a day after cleaning the area. I hope this helps and that all is well!

The picture makes it difficult to see. It's possible it may be a scab trying to heal, a minorly infected area of skin, or a wart/growth forming. It would be best to keep the area clean and dry and keep Belle from licking or chewing at the spot. If the area continues to change in appearance, is bothersome to Belle is hot to the touch, painful, or oozing debris, or doesn't seem to be healing, it is best to seek veterinary care in person. Your vet can take a look at and sample of the spot as needed and provide more tailored treatments depending on the cause.

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.

You can monitor it at home for now. If you see Milo chewing or licking at the spot, place an e-collar (cone) on him. This may be enough to allow for healing. Keep the area clean and dry. If the spot changes rapidly, grows, bleeds or appears infected then you will need to have him examined by your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Hi. This looks like a hot spot, which is a skin infection. Usually associated with allergies. It needs an exam, antibiotics and a.clip and clean. Also possibly anti-inflammatory. Give your veterinarian a call