My 8-month Boxer has a growing ear spot. Could it be a blood blister?

Hello. This is definitely not a blood blister but a small tumor. I would recommend removal while it is quite small. Since Maddux is still a young dog, the chance of the growth being malignant is slim, but I would also recommend sending the tissue off for histopathology just to make sure. In most cases, surgical removal should be curative. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I would recommend having Lily evaluated by the vet if this mass is getting bigger. any abnormal growth that is changing in size and shape should be assessed to make sure that it is not malignant. A needle aspirate may give your vet enough clues to determine what this is, or they may recommend surgical biopsy or removal. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This appears to be a small wart like growth, or small tumor. These can be quite common on older dogs. I would clean the area with peroxide & apply some topical antibiotic tonight, & have Sadie seen by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience. It may be nothing at all, & only requires observation, or it might be best to remove the growth to prevent bleeding episodes, but it does not look too serious. Hopefully, all will be well soon. Take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! My dog gets these. He has had them on his legs and they would bleed occasionally especially during a bath. They tend to be benign growths. I don;t like your description of the one on the face that increases and decreases in size though. That sounds like the behavior of a mast cell, which boxers tend to get. If it looks like the one in the picture it could increase and decrease in size based on the blood inside the mass. The only way to fix them is to remove them, which is what I did for my dog. Sadly they will develop more over time. I would take Kate to your Vet and have them examine the areas and discuss removal. I wish you and Kate the best!

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Given his age, the most likely problem is something such as an infection from a penetrating foreign body. There could be something still stuck below his skin if this is the case. Other possibilities include a bot fly larva or even a tumor of some kind. I would recommend having him seen by a veterinarian as soon as you can to have it checked and addressed. Hope this helps!

I am so sorry to hear that Boxer has this concerning mass. Because you have noticed the mass over a period of a few months and because it is bleeding repeatedly I would have it seen by a veterinarian. There are many possible causes for masses in a dogs skin including foreign bodies, bacterial infections, cysts, and several types of benign and well as malignant tumours. In the meantime, place an e-collar, or cone, on Boxer to prevent him from biting or scraping the mass. This will hopefully stop him from bursting it again, as well as stop him from possibly infecting the area. Measure the mass with a ruler so you can compare its growth in a couple weeks time. Rapidly growing masses are more concerning. I hope that this answer was helpful and more importantly that Boxer feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.