My dog has a pimple with a hair on its belly. Is it an ingrown hair?

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Although having a small pimple is not normal, I'm not sure I would be very concerned at this time. I would monitor the area and if the pimple does not go away or more lesions pop up it would be a good idea to have Frankie checked out by your veterinarian.

It could either be pustules or papules which are typically a sign of mild allergies. I would recommend monitoring these areas for now if they are just localized to 1-2 areas on the body because they can resolve on their own. However if they start to spread or bother your pet (excessive licking, scratching, whining), then it is best treated with anti-histamines/steroids through your veterinarian. Allergies can be to just about anything, including food, chemicals, and other things in the environment.

I'm wondering if the 'pimple' in the first picture is potentially part of her spay scar and a suture reaction if she was recently adopted and spayed. You may be able to feel some 'firm' tissue beneath this area if that is the case. It's also possible that this is a small skin mass that has become infected. Dogs can develop milia, but milia are most commonly seen when there is excess cortisol due to a disease like Cushing's. The milia do not typically require treatment but the underlying disease does. Cushing's is common in middle aged to older dogs and other signs include increased thirst, hunger and urination. I think it would be a good idea to have a veterinarian examine her skin to make sure treatment for an infection isn't necessary, and to discuss testing for Cushing's disease if she is showing any other signs.

Pimple type bumps can be a sign of a bacterial infection of the skin that often require antibiotic therapy to treat. I would recommend setting up an appointment with Bella's vet for an exam and they can prescribe antibiotics if that is what she ends up needing!

The picture you posted does not look like a pimple, so I am worried that it is actually a mass. Anytime a new mass is noticed, I always recommend having it evaluated to see what it is and if anything needs to be done about it. Unfortunately, we often can't tell anything about a mass by just looking at it. Your vet can perform a simple test called a fine needle aspirate where they use a small needle to collect some cells from the mass, then look at them under the microscope. They may even need to send the cells to the lab for a pathologist to examine them, so we know what the mass is. If it is benign, you might not need to do anything about the mass at all, but if they see cells that worry them, they might recommend removing the mass. If the area is infected, then your veterinarian may prescribe oral or injectible antibiotics to resolve it. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be an infection, cyst, allergic reaction, or mass. Have your vet take a look at the bump tomdetermine the cause. Your vet can do a fine needle aspirate to diagnose and then determine the best way to treat it. He may need an antibiotic, antihistamine, corticosteroid to treat or it may need to be removed.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Harley. I do recommend that he sees a veterinarian. That is a larger bump than the average pustule or pimple. He could have a small mass that is growing or an infection under the skin. This time of year, insect bites are common as well. His veterinarian will evaluate the bump and may collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. I hope this information helps!