My dog has itchy bumps. Is it a spider bite? When should I see a vet?

Hello, sorry to hear about Charlie. It sounds like he may have a local area of infection. I agree that the area itself will likely take a long time to heal, however, if he is vomiting and having a lethargy (systemic signs) then this is more concerning for an infection that may be spreading to other parts of his body. This does warrant an emergency visit today. There is a high possibility that his vomiting and decreased appetite is associated with his wound and infection, but there are also other causes for these clinical signs as well. Hope this helps and best of luck!!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. What you are seeing is likely what we call a papilloma. This is a type of skin growth caused by the papilloma virus. The good news is that these are benign and will typically resolve on their own. If it gets much bigger or there are new ones thst begin to pop up, I would have a veterinarian examine Lexi so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. There are medications such as azithromycim, that have been shown to reduce the size of papilloma. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Hello. Is it possible that Charlie was bitten by something like a tick? This just looks like an acute inflammatory reaction. If you have some hydrocortisone cream, I would just rub a bit into the skin several times a day. If you do not have any cream, then please visit your Petco who will have several brands, including Zymox which is a very good product. If the area worsens or just does not seem to be healing, please consult your veterinarian. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Peewee. Since it doesn't hurt him and he's acting normally, keep an eye on him for now. Should the lump get bigger, starts to bother him, he has trouble eating, becomes lethargic, or anorexic, then I would rush into an ER vet right away. Otherwise, you can wait until the morning to have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! With most insect or spider bites we never see the actual event take place. Did you see a spider make that spot on Loui's belly or are you assuming it's a bite? Most assumed bites cause hives, facial swelling and scratching. The picture could indicate an insect or spider bite but could be a lot of other things: start of a skin infection, contact allergy, trauma. If it is a spider bite you witnessed and there hasn't been any facial swelling or hives then hopefully the lesion on the belly is all you will see. Bit since he is so young and we are approaching the weekend, just have him seen by your Vet today so they can look at the area up close. I hope this helps and have a great day!

Ouch. The area does look quite swollen and possibly already infected. Depending on the spider that bit Rocco, he may need antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines to prevent the skin from being necrotic (dying off) and systemic bacteria (bacteria floating in the bloodstream which can be life threatening) from developing. i would suggest cleaning it with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water for tonight if a vet visit is just absolutely not possible. This will help provide some topical antiseptic cleansing of the wound. Take special care not to get any of this in his eyes. Then getting Rocco seen by a vet first thing in the morning to get this area looked at and treated appropriately. However if a vet visit tonight is possible, then getting him seen right away is best, before it gets any worse. I hope everything works out well for your pet Rocco. Best wishes and take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It’s hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like Baby might have a skin infection. The Benadryl should help if she’s itchy but she needs to see a vet to determine if it’s an infection and get her some oral antibiotics if needed. Good luck and kisses to Baby!