My dog has a lump and bald spot on both cheeks. What should I do?

Hello and thank you for your question about Bear. Unfortunately the picture is blurry so I can't get a good idea of what I'm seeing. It looks red and circular but I"m not certain. In general, a sudden red spot or rash could be several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection, ringworm (which humans can get) or endocrine disease. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. You can wash the lesion(s) once a day (not his whole body, just the lesion). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesion does not start improving within a week or if it is getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It looks like a hot spot (moist dermatitis). Your veterinarian should examine Roxy to confirm the diagnosis. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent pawing or rubbing. The e-collar may keep your other dog away from it as well. Ideally, the area should be clipped and scrubbed by your vet. Topical and/or systemic antibiotic treatment may be indicated.

Thank you for your question. From your photo, it appears that Bear has a small skin infection. I recommend cleaning it with warm soapy water. You can carefully trim the hair around the lesion to make it easier to clean. Since you just noticed this, it is hard to say if it is something that has been there and is healing, or if it will get worse. I recommend keeping it clean through the weekend and using a cone or e-collar to keep Bear from licking the area. You can apply a triple antibiotic ointment once or twice a day. If it isn't getting better, you should call your veterinarian on Monday to have it evaluated and see if antibiotics are needed. Make sure you wash your hands after you have touched the wound. I hope this information helps, and that Bear heals quickly.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to tell from the photo where this lesion is located. However, with anything under the skin that is growing, we become concerned about an infection (abscess formation), a mass of some kind, or a blood accumulation (hematoma), among others. I would recommend Rokko be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his skin swelling/redness, have any necessary testing done (needle aspirate, culture) and start any treatment that may be needed. Good luck!

It looks like Tank could have what we call a "hot spot" or a superficial pyoderma (bacterial infection of the skin). You can read more about this issue at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952981 . I would recommend bringing him in to see the vet. We often need to shave these areas and clean them with an antiseptic cleaner. Then sometimes an oral antibiotic/steroid is needed, others times a topical spray such as Gentocin spray is prescribed. I would be careful having him outside with this wound as it can attract flies/maggots which you don't want to deal with! I would recommend keeping him primarily indoors until the lesion is healed.

Keep the area on his chin clean and as dry as possible. You can use a plain, unscented baby wipe or pet wipes to clean him up as needed. Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further licking or chewing. Use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean the hotspots. Dry thoroughly afterwards. If the skin is broken, you may need to see your veterinarian for antibiotics. There can be an allergic component to the hotspots. If Bear has a sensitivity to cottage cheese, it may not be helping. You should discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials and antihistamine use with your veterinarian. The cough should also be addressed to make sure it is nothing more serious than kennel cough. KC is typically self limiting and usually resolves with or without treatment.

Ouch, poor Chewie! This lesion looks most consistent with a hot spot (moist dermatitis). Given the location, I would also be concerned that he created the lesion from trying to scratch his ears from an ear infection. If you have clippers on hand, you can clip the hair around the skin lesion and then clean it with an antiseptic soap, such as chlorhexidine or betadine. It is worth taking a trip to the vet to have his skin and ears evaluated. Until you can take Chewie to the vet, keep an e-collar on him to prevent further skin damage. I hope that all goes well!