My dog has a bump behind his ear. Is it a spider bite or a growth?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. What you are seeing is likely what we call a papilloma. This is a type of skin growth caused by the papilloma virus. The good news is that these are benign and will typically resolve on their own. If it gets much bigger or there are new ones thst begin to pop up, I would have a veterinarian examine Lexi so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. There are medications such as azithromycim, that have been shown to reduce the size of papilloma. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If it truly was not there yesterday, this is most likely to be a bug bite (tick, mosquito, spider, bee, other), dog/cat bite (if he was wrestling with any other friends lately), or some other random trauma (crashing through a spiky bush or catching it on something). If you're unsure how long it's been there, add cyst, benign or malignant tumor, and others to the list of possibilities. I'd slap some neosporin on there twice daily and watch it. If no improvement in 3 days (or if worsening at any time), it's time to see the vet. This goes for any accompanying facial swelling, vomiting, or diarrhea, as these could be signs of serious allergic reaction. Best of luck to you and Lucky!

I’m sorry to hear that Charlie has this going on. Yes, a spider bite could cause a lesion like that. However, skin infection, ring worm, eosinophilic furunculosis, or even potentially a tumor could appear like this. If it isn’t rapidly improving then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. A microscopic examination may be helpful in creating a treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Peewee. Since it doesn't hurt him and he's acting normally, keep an eye on him for now. Should the lump get bigger, starts to bother him, he has trouble eating, becomes lethargic, or anorexic, then I would rush into an ER vet right away. Otherwise, you can wait until the morning to have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

This looks like it could be an insect bite or sting, or a tick bite if they are in your area. Skin infections can also occasionally start this way. If you start to see more lesions similar to the one above, or if this bump begins to increase in size or have any discharge I would recommend having it examined by your veterinarian. If it is an insect bite it should be gone in the next 7-10 days or so. Monster is a handsome guy!

It could be a spider bite, but it could also be a cyst. I would gently clean the area with warm water and antiseptic soap. Tomorrow have Duke seen by a vet, as if it's a cyst, it may need to be removed surgically to prevent it from filling up again.

If it is a bug bite, the swelling should go down after a few hours. If it does not, I would be more worried about a skin tumor or an infection. Keep Scruffy from licking the area by having him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Have him examined by the veterinarian if the swelling persists. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.