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My dog has an itchy bump on her side with pus. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | 120 lbs

Hello I felt a small bump on the side/back of my dog that seemed to be itchy for her. I felt it and actually was able to pinch off a bit of her fur while doing so. There was some puss like substance on the ends of her fur which I pulled out

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 25th, 2018

It's difficult to tell exactly what's going on here without seeing the lesion and being able to do some testing, but I am suspicious of a skin infections. These infections can be due to fungi, bacteria, parasites, or all of the above. There is often a primary problem that causes the itch, so if Maggie has been itching for a while, then it's best to get the source of the itch discovered by a vet.

I'll give you a few tips for dealing with a skin infection, but if the lesion gets worse, or is not getting any better within a week of treatment, then I'd recommend you have a vet evaluate Maggie.

I recommend doing the following every day until the skin appears normal again:

1) Clip the hair around the area and expose all of the lesions.
2) Wash the area with warm water and a medicated shampoo (can get this at the pet store) once a day. Use a cloth and gently wipe away the scabs. Do not scrub, because it will irritate the skin more. It's OK if all of the scabs do not come off in each washing.
3) Make sure the area is completely dry after washing.

I hope that helps and all is well with Maggie.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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