My dog has a bump or lump in his ear. What is it and is it serious?

That does look to be a mass. A mass is a collection of cells and can be benign (inflammation, cyst, some tumors) or a malignant tumor. Given the age of your dog this may be a histiocytoma, but as many skin tumors can look alike the best plan to confirm this is for your vet to perform a needle aspirate for cytology. That way you will know for sure if this can be monitored or if it needs any therapy. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bertie. Lumps generally fall into a few broad categories including growths/tumors which can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer), granulomas which are a collection of inflammatory cells, abscess/infection, among others. In young dogs, a common benign tumor called a histiocytoma can develop. These are raised growths, often pink and somewhat flat like a button. These growths oftentimes resolve on their own without treatment. I would advise that your veterinarian take a look at Bertie. They can get a detailed history and do a complete physical exam focusing on the area of the growth, They may advise diagnostics such as a fine needle aspirate or a biopsy of the growth to determine what it is. If they suspect a histiocytoma they may just advise monitoring the area but to also be on the lookout for any scratching of the ear/growth. Once a diagnosis is obtained or suspected, a sound treatment plan can be discussed. The ear is a tricky area for growths and their removal because of the lack of skin to close over the incision if they are removed. Thus, a growth in this area warrants a quick analysis by your vet. Good luck with Bertie.

This may be an abscess, a cyst or a tumor. You should have it examined by your veterinarian, as it is not possible to distinguish these by just looking at a photo. An abscess can usually be treated with antibiotics and/or be lanced, and a cyst can be evacuated. To identify a tumor, your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.

Aw poor Tottie! Without examining the lump is impossible to say if it is anything to be worried about. It also sounds like Tottie has an ear infection. I'd recommend taking Tottie to see your veterinarian so that her ears can be checked. Your vet can also check the lump and take a needle sample to determine if it is a problem. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Tottie's issues can be resolved quickly!

I am sorry to hear about your Akita. There are many different skin growths that can occur in dogs. Some are more benign, such as sebaceous adenomas, where others are malignant and can spread/behave aggressively such as mast cell tumors. Unfortunately without examining the growth we cannot tell you what type of mass you have. The safest course of action would be to set up an appointment with your vet. They can examine the area and may recommend what is called a fine needle aspirate, where a small needle is inserted into the growth to collect cells to aid in identification of the mass which can help determine the appropriate course of action (i.e. just monitor for changes versus surgical removal).

Thank you for the picture and clarification. This looks like it could be an aural hematoma, which is when fluid gets trapped between the layers of the ear. This is usually a sign of an ear infection. I'd have this checked out by a vet.

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!