My dog has a dark, painless growth on her neck near her ear.

Hello. Because of this lesions' change in size & color, I would recommend just having it removed. It looks like a melanoma, but would need histopathology to definitively diagnose it. It is small so removal should be pretty easy. This would be a good time to have your veterinarian take a good look deep into Moka's ears. You may not see any infection, but there could be inflammation or even a foreign body like a grass awn down near the ear drum. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the picture, I can see a small, flat, brown area that is slightly irregular. Though I cannot diagnose Mindy without seeing her in person, I would be happy to share some possible causes and advice on next steps. This could be a benign growth, similar to a mole or freckle on a person or a malignant growth (cancer). Several types of cancer can affect the skin, particularly lighter areas that have less hair. The area does not seem to be infected, as there is no discharge, redness, or swelling, but a bacterial or fungal infection is a possibility. You can have Mindy evaluated by a veterinarian who can take a small piece, or biopsy of the area to definitively diagnose the growth. This may require light sedation or general anesthesia to completely remove it. You can continue to monitor the area for an increase in size, margins, change in color, or additional discharge. If you notice any change in Mindy, you should definitely have her examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, your pictures are not very clear, but from what I can see, this does not look very happy. This may be a skin cancer that needs to be evaluated by your veterinarian. I hope you can have this addressed as soon as possible. All the best for Nena.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign growth or a malignant growth such as a mast cell tumor, melanoma, among many other possibilities. I recommend you have Houdini evaluated by your veterinarian for a test called fine needle aspirate which is an easy, quick and pain-free procedure which in the majority of cases will help reach a diagnosis to identify what the best course of action is based on the findings. In some cases, a biopsy is needed for a diagnosis. If it truly is benign then removal is not necessarily recommended. However, if it is malignant and it has not spread to other locations, then surgical removal is recommended. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign.

Thank you for your question. I would suspect this isn't anything to be concerned about, however, because it is on an ear and likely to become a problem if it grows, I would have your veterinarian take a look. It isn't only the appearance of a nodule that we worry about, but how it feels, and if it is moveable, or attached to the structures below the skin. Those are things that I cannot tell from a photo. This looks like a small little growth that we would probably monitor over time, but it is an odd location, and it is better to be safe and have it checked out. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is difficult to tell from the picture, but it looks like what you are seeing is a mass. We will commonly see benign masses in young dogs called a histiocytoma which can be itchy. Unfortunately, there isn't any way to determine what a mass it just by looking at it. Your vet can do a simple test called a fine needle aspirate to remove some cells with a needle and look at them under a microscope to determine what the mass is. If it is a histiocytoma, it will go away on its own, but Damon may need some medication to keep it from being itchy. I have attached more information on histiocytomas below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1676 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!