My dog has a hard lump on her ear 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.

Hi and thanks for your request. This seems a chronic reaction of the skin (chronic inflammation) but is not concerning as it does not seems an active lesion at all. The lump should resolve with time but may take several weeks. If you notice any redness or if it becomes itchy then a check up will be required.

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 !

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!

A small amount of localized swelling and redness is a normal inflammatory reaction after tick removal. However, if the swelling and redness persists then you should have your vet take a look at it. You could clean the area with a wound wash and then apply a topical OTC antibiotic cream to the area. Make sure to use a good flea and tick prevention, NexGard, Bravecto, Credelio. Also, talk to your vet about vaccinating for Lyme disease is she isn't vaccinated. Monitor for any abnormal signs and talk your vet about yearly testing for tick borne diseases and heartworms.

At this point, there may not be much you can do other than monitor it closely and keep it clean and dry. Protect the lump from scratching or other trauma. Your normal vet may also be able to provide some guidance via telehealth. Make sure to have it checked out as soon as your veterinarian opens again. If the mass starts getting worse, call and see if any emergency clinics are still open. Also, it's likely there are still some normal veterinary clinics that are open and I recommend to call around and look. You need to make arrangements for an appointment ahead of time and follow the assigned protocols. I hope this helps.