My dog's head bump is changing and painful. What could it be?

I am sorry that Aspen has developed a bump or lump on her skin. Thank you for providing pictures. From the pictures you have sent the "bump" appears to be a skin growth. There are several types off masses that can grow in the skin of dogs such as cysts, lipomas, and even cancers. Some are benign and some are malignant, so careful observation is important, as well as having a vet examine it if you are concerned. Since you only noticed the lump recently, I would continue to monitor it for growth, ulceration, changes in texture or color. Measure the mass with a ruler so you can compare its growth in a couple weeks time. Rapidly growing masses are more concerning. You can also try applying a cool compress and cleaning with warm salt water once daily if it needs it. If you notice any changes or rapid growth either take Aspen in for a vet appointment or post another question here on the forum. I hope that this answer was helpful and more importantly that Aspen feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think you should have this checked. The fact that it was previously known to be benign, does not mean that now it cannot be malignant. If it has gotten bigger, it would be great to sample it again. I recommend you have Lily evaluated by your veterinarian for a test called fine needle aspirate which is an easy, quick and pain-free procedure which in the majority of cases will help reach a diagnosis to identify what the best course of action is based on the findings. In some cases, a biopsy is needed for a diagnosis. If it truly is benign then removal is not necessarily recommended. However, if it is malignant and it has not spread to other locations, then surgical removal is recommended. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed that it is something benign.

As stated by Dr. Orioles, Kelsey should, ideally, be examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate would be needed to possibly diagnose the lumps and the cause. In a senior pet, infection or cancer are always concerns in regards to rapidly developing lumps or cyts. If the lumps were to cause discomfort or be infection, you may see a behavioral change in Kelsey. This would possibly include lethargy, lameness or loss of appetite.

At three years of age, the chance of a bump being something serious like cancer would be rare but there is always a chance. It could also be that Chicharito has a benign tumor. Any suspicious bumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the bump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I'd make an appointment for him to be seen by the vet sometime in the next week. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

That bump could be a skin mass, a wart, a skin tag or an infected hair follicle. Most skin masses are benign but there is always a chance its malignant. The best way to know would be to take Charlie into the vet to have the mass aspirated. This will tell you what it is. Otherwise you can monitor it closely at home. If it changes in size, then take him in to get it checked out. I hope this helps!

Thank you for providing pictures of Ela's bump. There are a couple of things this could be; for example, it could be from trauma if she's scratching her ear a lot. That could be a sign of an ear infection. This bump could also be a benign tumor or a malignant tumor. In a senior dog, unfortunately there is always a chance any bump could be malignant. Given that it's been growing, I would have her seen by a vet for it. The vet can diagnose what is causing the bump and how best to treat it. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I'm glad to hear that Willow's lump has not dramatically changed in size and that she is otherwise feeling okay. Lumps and bumps can be benign or malignant masses, granulomas, abscessed/infected lesions, among many other conditions. Even though this lump has not changed, I still recommend taking Willow to her vet for further evaluation. The vet will be able to performa fine needle aspirate, which will use a needle to draw a few cells from the lump so that the cells can be examined microscopically. This test will provide a lot of useful information as to whether the lump can be monitored at home for changes or if surgical removal is the best course of action. I hope this helps and that all goes well!