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My puppy has a soft, bleeding red growth above its anus. Is it serious?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Hello,our new puppy, 2 month old golden retriever, has a small red growth above her anus. It is soft, and when vet checked it, it was bleeding little bit.Vet told us he never saw it before.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on January 29th, 2020

That does look odd. As a guess, I would suspect an infection or perhaps a prolapse. I recommend to discuss with the veterinarian some type of anti-inflammatory or even an antibiotic. The vet should also preform a rectal exam to get a better idea of the anatomy of the anus.
Make sure to keep the area from trauma so She may need to wear an elizabethan collar at all times. She should also not drag her rectum on the ground (and if she does, keep her off rough surfaces).
An omega 3 fatty acid supplement will not correct the problem but it may help to decrease inflammation and condition the skin.
Prolapses sometimes require surgical correction. Have your pup examined again to discuss options.
I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on April 25th, 2017
Poor Trixie! Dogs don't really get hemorrhoids like people do, so I'm not quite sure what problem you might be describing. Puppies can get something called a rectal prolapse, which means that the rectal tissue turns inside out and protrudes from the anus - if this is what you are seeing, I'm afraid that she really needs to see a vet right away. The protruding rectal tissue will need to be manually replaced under sedation, and a purse string suture is usually placed in the rectum to keep it in place. Delaying treatment for this problem can result in the protruding tissue drying out and becoming necrotic, which would then require extensive surgery or even euthanasia - so it would be best to take her to the vet right away to have this treated.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on April 19th, 2017
Poor Dizzy! Without being able to see her, it's hard to say for sure what's going on here - but from your description, since you say that "her anus is out," it sounds like she may have a rectal prolapse. This means that the tissue lining her rectum has turned inside out and is protruding from her anus, like a pink growth or lump. If this is the case, she needs to be seen by a vet immediately to have the prolapsed tissue replaced and tacked back in place with suture - the longer it's out, the higher the chance that the tissue will dry out and become necrotic, in which case surgery will be needed to try and repair the damage.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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What is a bleeding red growth near my dog's anus? Should I worry?

It could be a benign or malignant growth, or an infected area in the anal tissue. I would keep an eye on it and have it checked by your veterinarian at your next regularly scheduled visit. At this point it nothing to be overly concerned about from the photo. Certainly if it changes at all or causes a problem for your dog then take him in right away to have an exam. It looks like it could easily be surgically removed if needed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bebe.

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My dog has a bloody lump near her anus. Is it a hemorrhoid? What now?

It is hard to tell for sure by the pictures, but my suspicion would be that it is either a perianal tumor that has bled, or potentially a ruptured anal sac abscess. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If it is an abscess then antibiotics will likely be needed. If it is a tumor then the veterinarian can discuss options with you. Often perianal tumors are benign. I think getting a diagnosis is the first step and then you can gather information and make decisions from there. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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What's this growth on my dog's anus after diarrhea? Is it serious?

From what I can see from the photo I think this looks more like inflammation or infection. Sometimes when dogs have diarrhoea they rub their bums which can lead to raw skin which in turn can become infected. Another possibility is an anal gland infection, these can burst out suddenly. There is always a possibility that it could be a tumour but it doesn't look like the typical tumours you get around the anus. With appropriate treatment an infection should heal within one to two weeks, whereas tumours would require more investigation/invasive treatment. I would chat to your bet about getting some meds for your dog if they haven't been prescribed already. Running bloods would also be prudent and may give further clues to the cause.

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My dog has a red lump or blister near his anus. Is it serious?

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Why does my dog have a painful red bump on their anal area?

It could be an [anal gland abscess](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anal-glands-sacs-impactions-infections-abscesses-in-dogs). This occurs when the anal glands do not fully empty during the act of defecation resulting in inflammation, impaction and infection. Have her examined by your veterinarian for confirmation and treatment. This may include sedation followed by lancing, draining and flushing the abscess. Antibiotics and pain management will likely be indicated. Topical treatment may not be sufficient. An e-collar (cone) can be used to prevent licking until she sees the doctor. Afterwards, you can have her glands expressed (emptied) regularly and add additional [fiber](https://www.petcoach.co/article/high-fiber-diets-anal-gland-disease-in-dogs/) to her diet to[ prevent recurrence](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-prevent-impacted-dog-anal-glands).

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My dog has a sudden, bloody sore on his rear. What should I do?

Based on the location (it appears to be just to the side and just below the anus), an anal gland abscess may have ruptured. I doubt it’s an insect bite, but I can’t rule that out completely. It could also be another type of mass such as a tumor or a foreign body (such as a grass seed) that’s burrowed into the skin and caused an abscess. Regardless, your instincts are correct; this likely needs to be treated with antibiotics. Put an E -collar (cone of shame) on him and make an appointment with your vet ASAP. Hope that’s helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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What's this growth on my 8-week-old puppy's anus? Is it urgent?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Mazzy and for providing a picture. The picture is very helpful! That looks like she has an anal prolapse, which is when the anus is displaced outside the body. It will need to be put back into place and the best person to do this is the vet. I do recommend taking her into a vet now. I hope this helps!

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