My dog's facial cyst keeps coming back and growing. Should I worry?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This appears to be a fluid filled cyst from the looks of it. These can come and go at times. Typically there is no concern with these other than the fact that they are unsightly for some pet owners. This is something that could be removed under sedation if you would like it removed.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Thanks for the pictures! I see these commonly around the ears and neck. They tend to be benign cysts. They are clear because there is fluid in them. You can have the cyst drained but they tend to fill back up. You can discuss removing it with your Vet, if the cyst is smaller than 8 mm maybe they can remove it with lidocaine. I hope this helps and I wish Toby the best!

Sometimes tumors can become cystic or fluid filled. In some cases we can drain these swellings but oftentimes they will refill. They may take just a day or two to refill, or months, and it is impossible to predict. If your dog is in otherwise good health I would talk to your vet about removing the growth or if they feel uncomfortable doing so, referring you to a veterinary surgeon with more experience removing large growths such as this. They may be willing to drain the swelling at your vet's office, just be warned that it can refill.

If this lump fills up with clear fluid, it is most likely a cyst. These are usually nothing to be concerned by, but they will keep filling up over and over. The only way to get rid of them permanently is to have them surgically removed. Most of the time this isn't necessary as cysts are mostly cosmetic.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do not think the mass has anything to do with being bitten in the area. It looks like a sebaceous adenoma form your picture (benign). It is very small and I recommend, if Lilly is a calm dog, removing it locally with lidoacine and a punch biopsy. It looks smaller than 8mm which makes it easy to take off with out anesthesia. If you decide not to take it off, I think that is fine. Dogs that form sebaceous adenomas tend to form more throughout their lives. Sometimes the dogs will lick or irritate them prompting owners to want to remove them. I hope this helps and I wish you and Lilly the best!

It is difficult to say for sure without seeing it in person but it looks like a meibomian gland cyst. They have small gland along their eyelids that will get clogged and form these which resemble tumors. If she previously had one removed in this area, this could be that one growing back or a different one. If it isn't causing her eye to be irritated, red, or to squint then you could just watch it. If it is growing or irritated her eye or if you are unsure, I would have your vet take a look at it. It is always easier for a vet to remove it while it is small than waiting until it becomes really large. I hope this helps!

I agree that it looks like it is most likely a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts tend to grow slowly over time, but should not increase in size rapidly or become red. They can become infected, so it if becomes red or painful, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine it in case it has become infected. If it is enlarging, your vet can perform a simple test called a fine needle aspirate where they use a small needle to collect some cells from the mass, then look at them under the microscope to make sure that it is a benign cyst. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.