My dog has a lump on his face, but acts normal. Is it a spider bite?

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 and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can definitely see the lumps on Spider's side that you are talking about. They do not appear to be bleeding or have any discharge or inflammation, so I can guess that they are not bothering Spider. It is hard to get a good idea of their size from the pictures, but they do not appear very large. You have several options in this case - you can either continue to monitor the lumps for any change in size or development of discharge/redness (having them evaluated by a veterinarian if any of those signs occur) or you can have him seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Having him evaluated shortly will allow Spider to have a better prognosis if the lumps are masses, as they can be removed and sent of to a laboratory for a definitive diagnosis and treatment options.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Chippy! If it wasn't a venomous spider he should be ok. If he's scratching a lot I would be worried he would cause an infection. That would require antibiotics. You can try washing the area with soap and water and make sure it's dry. You can also apply a thin layer of antibacterail ointment. We aren't allowed to give Benadryl dosing so call your vet for how much to give. That may prevent him from causing more damage. Good luck and kisses to Chippy!

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!

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!!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. It is very difficult to say what a lump could be without feeling it. My best guess is that this is a sebaceous cyst which is benign. So, yes, you should take him to your vet for an exam. It is not an emergency; just try to get him an appointment in the next week or so. ( https://www.kingsdale.com/sebaceous-cysts-in-dogs ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If it is a bug bite, the swelling should go down after a few hours. If it does not, I would be more worried about a skin tumor or an infection. Keep Scruffy from licking the area by having him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Have him examined by the veterinarian if the swelling persists. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.