My dog has a bleeding lump on his skin. When should I see a vet?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that there is a round, dark red to black-ish area, but am not sure where it is. This definitely appears uncomfortable, and I can see that Diggory has been licking at it by the wet fur. As long as Diggory is acting normally, eating/drinking, and not vomiting; it is most likely okay to wait until tomorrow morning to have the area looked at by a vet. You can get him an E-collar or "cone" to keep him from bothering the area. I don't recommend putting a bandage on it, as Diggory is likely to rip it off and possibly eat it. This may be caused by an infection, allergic reaction, or even certain types of cancer. A vet will be able to prescribe antibiotics, medicated shampoos/ointments, and pain medication to keep Diggory comfortable until you get to your family vet. I hope this helps and that all is well with Diggory!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have Gunnar evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

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!

It could be an infection, cyst, or possibly a hystiocytoma. The best thing would be to have a vet take a look at the lesion. Your vet can do a needle aspirate to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or it may need to be removed. Hope he feels better soon!

There could be a few things that look like that. An infection that ruptured through the skin, a bite wound, a fly larva or a cyst that popped could all have this appearance. I would recommend to take Pepper into the vet within the next 24 hours to have an exam and likely antibiotics. Make sure to protect the area from Pepper licking it or scratching it as this will make it worse. Also make sure to clip the hair short and wash it with an antibacterial soap! I hope this helps!

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!

Poor Spud looks like he may be having an allergic reaction to something, and also likely has a secondary bacterial infection going on. He needs to be seen by your vet to get a better idea what is causing the skin issues. He likely needs to be on anti-inflammatory medication like Apoquel or Prednisone, and an antibiotic. This will make him feel better and heal the skin issues. You can apply an epsom salt/warm water compress to the rash areas on the neck, but he really needs to see a veterinarian for proper treatment and medications.