My dog has a hard black lump after a tick bite. Is it normal?

A tick bite typically leaves a "granuloma." This is a reaction to the tick's saliva. It should resolve on its own in a a few days to a few weeks. Monitor for signs of infection, lameness, lethargy, swollen or painful joints or fever. Use a [tick preventive](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-and-puppy-flea-and-tick) such as FrontLine, K9 Advantix, Bravecto, NexGard or a Seresto collar. Always check for [ticks on your dog](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-places-ticks-hide-on-dogs) upon returning home for outdoors.

Sometimes thed skin reacts to the tick bite with an overproduction of connective tissue fibers. This usually feels like a hard little knot. It is more a beauty issue than a medical issue. This is not something you have to worry about as long as it does not grow in size or changes color or shape. It will likely get smaller over the years or maybe stay the same.

The lump is likely a reaction to the bite and the anticoagulant injected by the tick. It can take a few weeks for the lump to go away. Just monitor it for infection/pus/pain. If those signs appear, have your veterinarian examine the lump.

Hello! It's difficult to tell for sure, but what I think I'm seeing in the photo is a nipple towards the upper left aspect of the photo, and an oval yellowish area below - I'm guessing that's where you believe the tick was removed? It is very common for dogs to get a small hard scab where a tick was removed, and as long as that scab is not red, inflamed, and has no discharge, it typically resolves on its own. Dogs do not get the stereotypical "bulls-eye" lesion that we watch for in humans to indicate Lyme disease exposure. However, if the lesion in question is that yellowish oval area, that would not be a normal response to a tick bite, and I would have that checked out by a vet. Your vet will be able to look at the lump and determine how concerned they are, and they will likely want to take a small sample with a needle to look at the cells in the microscope (cytology) to determine what is causing the lump. Additionally, if there is concerned about tick exposure, they can test for exposure to the tickborne diseases such as Lyme disease. I hope this helps!

Hi ! Yes it is normal for a lump to be still there as the tick causes quite a bit of local inflammation. It is normal for a lump also to remain from now onwards, it is a normal reaction of the body. It would be important to know if the head of the tick has been removed or if it has been left under the skin. If left, it will contribute to inflammation and further treatment might be required. As this is the second time Joshie gets a tick this year I would recommend to use a product that prevents Joshie from getting ticks, I have used Seresto collars quite successfully for example. Hope this helps !

It’s common for a tick bite to have a raised firm nodule in the skin for several weeks. Be patient I expect this to go away in time. If not I recommend surgical removal and biopsy to get rid of it and check it for abnormal cells. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Amos.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ace. It is common to have a small swollen area where the tick was. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian though to determine if any treatment is needed. Ticks are capable of spreading diseases to dogs. He should also be started on a flea and tick preventive. I hope this information helps!