Drained a spot on my dog's head, now there's a lump. Is it serious?

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. This looks like a possible infected hair follicle of sebaceous gland infection. It is probably not dangerous, especially since your dog is still quite young. I would gently clean the area with something like Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ) & if it seems to be getting worse, bothering your dog, or begins to ooze, please see your vet as soon as possible. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This appears to be a possible pustule (infected small pocket underneath the skin). If just one of these is present and it isn't causing any discomfort, then I would suggest monitoring the area to see if it resolves on its own. You can gently clean the area with a mild soap (ie Dove) and warm water and placing a very thin layer of Neosporin to the bump to see if it goes away. However if it starts to spread or does not resolve within a week or two then a vet visit is needed to get Louie on a short course of antibiotics to get this to heal well. Best wishes and take care and I hope this resolved soon.

This presentation is due to a diffuse and quite severe pyoderma. A medicated shampoo, systemic antibiotics and a check up are absolutely needed to solve the problem. Pyoderma could be secondary to other diseases which cause immunosuppression. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From the picture you provided, the fluid in these bumps you are expressing looks to be pus to me. If Isaac has not been on a course of antibiotics I would get him on a 3-4 week course of an antibiotic like cephalexin or cefpidoxime. Addutional to oral antibiotics, i would recommend the following: 1. Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until the infection is resolved 2. Welactin omega 3 fish oil 3. Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent If there is no improvement, I would recommend further testing such as culturing the material in the pustules and a skin biopsy. A visit to a veterinary dermatologist should be considered if your vet is unable to make a diagnosis as a second opinion from a specialist is always helpful in these puzzling dermatological cases. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.

If it is just the one spot, you can clean it with a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution daily. A warm compress applied for 5-10 minutes a few times daily may bring it to a head quicker. If it spreads or worsens, Bella may need to be seen by your veterinarian for an exam and systemic antibiotics. Use an e-collar (cone), if necessary, to prevent licking.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like this wound that became a lump that is oozing fluid has become an abscess, or a pocket of infected fluid. Abscesses form when infection is trapped under the skin or within tissues such as fat or muscle. The bacteria will try to find a way out, so they can break through the skin and create a "draining tract" of pus. This should be addressed by your veterinarian, who will likely drain the abscess and open it up to allow continuous drainage. Antibiotics for at least 2 weeks will be needed, along with pain medications. Depending on the size of the wound/abscess, a bandage may be needed. I hope this is helpful! Thank you for seeking care for your Luna!