My Maltese has a hard, growing head lump. What can I do myself?

Thank you for the image. This is likely a benign skin mass known as a sebaceous adenoma. They are common in older dogs and arise from sebaceous glands in the skin. You would need to have your dog physically examined by your veterinarian for confirmation. Removal is recommended if the lump grows larger or becomes ulcerated, but others may grow in the same spot or different areas. Keep it clean and dry and be careful not to irritate it during grooming/brushing or bathing.

It might be a pustule or a sebaceous cyst. You could try over the counter Vetericyn plus spray and see if it resolves. Otherwise, schedule an appointment with your vet to determine the cause and treat.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. Even young dogs can develop growths like histiocytomas and mast cell tumors, among many others. 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. The treatment for it will really depend on what it is so there is no general cream or ointment to put on these types of growths. If he has been scratching at it, you can consider using an e-collar while you wait to take him to your veterinarian and this will prevent any selft-trauma if that is currently an issue. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you can shave the fur away and clean the area twice daily with warm and mild soap then apply a topical antibacterial cream twice daily it may help. If the area gets worse or isn't starting to improve with a week you should have her seen by a Vet. Most exams and antibiotics shouldn't be that expensive. I hope this helps and I wish Akuma the best!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Chances are that this is a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts are usually harmless, sack-like growths with a lining that is not cancerous. In dogs, most cysts develop from hair follicles. These cysts typically appear as single, clearly defined, firm or soft lumps located in the skin or just beneath it. They are often between 0.5 to 5 centimetres in size and may sometimes have a bluish colour. A cyst can release a thick, gray-to-yellow-brown cheesy substance if it bursts. Other terms for sebaceous cysts in dogs include infundibular or follicular cysts. The lump needs to have a fine needle aspirate (FNA)/cytology to be sure of that diagnosis. Here is a link about the procedure and why it is done. It does not require anesthesia. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cytology-fine-needle-aspiration-fna ) If it is a sebaceous cyst, it will be very obvious once the vet introduces the needle into the lump. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. This is definitely a tumor, but it is impossible to say if it is a relatively harmless benign one, or a dangerous potentially aggressive malignant tumor. My guess is that this is very benign & will cause no great harm to Poochi. It can continue to grow, but may not ever affect her overall life. The best thing to do is to have your veterinarian perform a fine needle aspirate where a few cells are removed from the lump & examined under the microscope. Hopefully, all that will be seen are benign fat cells ( lipoma ), but if highly differentiated cells are seen, this would indicate that removal is advised. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sadly a lot of skin masses can look and feel the same. I always recommend anytime a new mass shows up or an old one changes that you get it looked at by a Vet. It could be a lipoma (benign fatty mass), normal anatomy, a cyst or a cancerous growth. I don't think you need to rush Bella in but watch it closely for rapid changes and have her seen at your convenience. I hope this helps and I wish Bella the best!