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Dog's black spot on cheek bled after squeezing. Tick or blister?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Greyhound | Male | neutered | 60 lbs

This morning I noticed thunder had what looked like a black mole on his right but cheek. He has never had a mole there so I squeezed it and a lot of blood came out maybe half a tablespoon. It had a hard shell like thing to come out with it. Is it a tick I got that broke up or is it just a blood blister? I cleaned the area off with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. He didn't give any trouble almost as if he didn't notice. We live near a wooded area in FL which they walk in frequently.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 29th, 2018

Hello. It is impossible to see if this was a blood blister or tick, but I would continue to clean the area 1-2 times daily for a least a few days. My concern is if this was a tick, you might have squeezed the ticks contents into your dog & this may incite an inflammatory reaction or even cause one of the tick diseases. So watch Thunder over the next couple of weeks. If the blood spot returns, it may be a small tumor that needs to be evaluated. If Thunder becomes lethargic, shows some signs or joint pain, or loses his appetite, see your vet & ask to have Thunder tested for tick disease. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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