My puppy has grey, round, blood-filled skin growths. Are they ticks?

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 her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! They look like keratin growths. The skin is made of keratin which is a protein and sometimes that protein is hard, like a nail. I recommend taking your pup to the vet to confirm but if that is what they are they are not serious. Kisses to your pup!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like a skin growth. I don't think it is a tick or any other skin parasite. Ticks feed on dogs for 3-4 days and then fall off. If this lump has been there for a few months it cannot be a tick or any other bug. Skin growths like this are common in older dogs. They are usually benign and not dangerous, but please show it to your vet the next time you take Lily in for an appointment.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From your pictures it looks like a growth. It doesn’t look like a tick or an egg. Possible causes are benign sebaceous hyperplasia or adenoma or histiocytoma or a more sinister mast cell tumor. Sadly many skin growths can look the same. It isn’t wrong to have your vet check it out. I definitely would do that if it grows quickly. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Thanks for the picture! It looks like an engorged tick. Gently lift it up and if you see 8 legs then it is a tick. Pull it gently off the skin where the head attaches to the skin or you can have your Vet for Vet tech remove it for you. I would change the brand of tick prevention you are using or start using one. I hope this helps!

While hard to say without seeing her in person, this does not have the appearance of a tick and looks more like a small skin growth. Ticks are usually dark in color, black/brown/maroon and once full of blood can have a pale grey appearance.

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 her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!