What's this flesh-colored, rubbery growth above my dog's eye? Is it serious?

Hello. That looks like a small growth/tumor that originated in a tear-producing gland. Without an actual biopsy, we cannot say the exact type or if it is benign/malignant. However, the majority are Meibomian Gland Adenomas and typically are benign. They can bleed, cause inflammation or infection and, if large enough, can irritate or even scratch the cornea. They can be a nuisance. Monitor for squinting, pain, rubbing the eye or chronic discharge. Some need to be removed surgically. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

This is a tumor. It's hard for me to tell the location on the dog from the photo. If it's growing quickly then it's more likely malignant and could spread to other parts of the body. If it's been there a long time then it's more likely benign. At the base it looks inflamed and may open up and drain. That would be messy and make it more likely to get a bad infection. If your dog is healthy even at age 13 I would have this removed, and they can biopsy it to determine the type of tumor. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dexter.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say exactly what the mass could be without examining Knox and taking a sample of the mass first. This should be done at your local veterinarian's office to determine if it is something of concern or not and if it needs to be removed. It is a little concerning as it is near the eye- if the mass was ever to get larger, it could obstruct her vision or irritate her cornea so it is a good idea to have this evaluated by a veterinarian. HPV is human papilloma virus- dogs cannot get human papilloma virus but have their own version which is canine papilloma virus. These two viruses are species specific. I hope this helps and I wish you and Knox the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. 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 day!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. Based on the pictures you provided, I suspect what you are seeing on Dede is what we call a sebaceous adenoma / cyst, which is benign. This type of skin mass is nothing to worry about but just monitor for the time being. These can become much larger and become infected on occasion, in which case they can be removed. You can also talk to your vet about freezing the mass off. Sometimes the freezing treatment may take 2 or 3 treatments before the mass falls off. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be an abscess. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have Ozzie evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. Based on its appearance, this is most likely a benign sebaceous adenoma. 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 one!