My dog's tail lump burst and is bleeding. Can I treat it at home?

I am very sorry to hear about your dog. Unfortunately at home treatment is definitely not adequate or appropriate for the severity of this lesion. It is difficult to tell without seeing this in person but I would be concerned about a potential tumor. You can refer to the article on this link http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html for ideas on paying for the vet bills/trying to find a vet you can afford for Brusky's care. In the meantime, I would put an e-collar on him if he is licking the area and keep him indoors except to use the bathroom because we would be concerned about flies causing maggots in this wound if the dog was outside for extended periods.

Yes, I would be worried because it's not normal for dogs to have bleeding lumps. It could be a cyst, but in a senior dog, there is always a concern that it's a malignant tumor. I would apply gentle pressure to the lump to try to stop the bleeding, and then have Raya seen by the vet in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing the lump, and can discuss treatment options with you. Keep her from licking at it overnight, and you may have to put an Ecollar on her to stop her from doing it. You can get one at a pet store, or can make one yourself: http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Sorry to hear that Didis is having these issues. Based on the photo, that appears to be some sort of mass that is now ulcerating. The area should be treated as if it were an open wound that is infected, and thus, she should be receiving antibiotics orally. The only way to obtain these will be with a veterinary examination and a prescription. If this is not possible, the best thing you can do is shave the hair that is surrounding the lesion, scrub the area with dilute betadine or chlorhexidine, and keep it as clean as possible. You can also apply something topically to the lesion such as triple antibiotic, though his may or may not be effective. Do not bandage or cover the area, as this will only serve to trap bacteria into the area. Hope this helps.

I would recommend that you have Lumpy checked out by a vet. It looks like it may be infected. The hair will need to be clipped away from the mass and the wound. Even if it is benign, masses don't heal very well since they are not normal tissue, so it may need to be removed so that it stops bleeding and will not continue to be a source for infection.

Unfortunately there is nothing else you can do at home besides the cleaning. An abscess is a pocket of infection, and it is painful to the dog. Arwyn needs antibiotics and pain medications, and the abscess needs to be drained and flushed. I would take her into a vet now to have this done. Best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you can shave the fur away and clean the area twice daily with warm and mild soap then apply a topical antibacterial cream twice daily it may help. If the area gets worse or isn't starting to improve with a week you should have her seen by a Vet. Most exams and antibiotics shouldn't be that expensive. I hope this helps and I wish Akuma the best!

I'm suspicious that this is due to trauma given the appearance and the fact that it just showed-up. This can happen when they get their tail caught under something (like a car tire). It doesn't look like something that needs to go to the vet right away, so it's OK to treat it and monitor it at home for now. If it doesn't get better in 2 weeks, or it starts to look worse, then I'd recommend taking her to the vet for an evaluation. Here are my recommendations for treatment: 1) Ice the area for 15 minutes twice a day. 2) Wash/spray the area with just cool, clean water (no soap or other antiseptics) for at least 2 minutes at a time. Do this at least twice a day. 3) Bandage the wound with gauze and apply an over-the-counter antibacterial cream (i.e Neosporin) to the wound. Keeping it covered and keeping Oakley from licking it will be the most difficult part of the treatment. You can help keep the bandage on by placing a good (really sticky) tape above and below the bandage. You can find sprays in the pet store, like bitter apple, that are meant to deter licking. This can be sprayed on the bandage (not the wound) to help keep Oakley from chewing it off. NOTE: Be careful not to bandage too tight or it can cut-off the circulation. If you notice that the end of the tail start to swell, then remove the bandage and leave it off until the swelling goes down. I hope that helps and Oakley gets better soon.