My dog has a soft lump that leaks fluid and lost fur. What is it?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not possible to know for sure what it is without being able to evaluate it under the microscope. This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have his evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Chances are that this is a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts are usually harmless, sack-like growths with a lining that is not cancerous. In dogs, most cysts develop from hair follicles. These cysts typically appear as single, clearly defined, firm or soft lumps located in the skin or just beneath it. They are often between 0.5 to 5 centimetres in size and may sometimes have a bluish colour. A cyst can release a thick, gray-to-yellow-brown cheesy substance if it bursts. Other terms for sebaceous cysts in dogs include infundibular or follicular cysts. The lump needs to have a fine needle aspirate (FNA)/cytology to be sure of that diagnosis. Here is a link about the procedure and why it is done. It does not require anesthesia. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cytology-fine-needle-aspiration-fna ) If it is a sebaceous cyst, it will be very obvious once the vet introduces the needle into the lump. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. It is difficult to say exactly what this is because cysts, small tumors & other benign skin growths can all look pretty similar. We do not recommend doing any squeezing on things like this because you could inadvertently introduce bacteria back into it & then you have a real problem. You should contact your veterinarian to schedule an appointment. Only after a hands-on examination can a plan be determined. One might be to just continue to watch this (without squeezing out the contents), or to remove it, send the tissues off for pathology, & make sure this is not something worrisome. I hope it is just benign, but it is better to know than worry. Thans for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Layla. Poor girl! This lump could be a cyst, an abscess (a pocket of infection), a swelling from an injury, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Unfortunately without seeing her in person, I cannot say for certain what is causing her lump. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give her vet a call in the morning to get her an appointment. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Without seeing the mass myself, it is difficult to say for sure what it could be. If you have not had a veterinarian take a look at this, I would recommend doing so and having some testing done to help identify what this could potentially be. The veterinarian can start by inserting a small needle into the mass and try and get a good sample of cells to look at under the microscope. The most definitive way of telling what this mass could be is to send out a tissue sample of the mass. If it is causing discomfort, I would have it removed and send it out to find out what it could be. If it is an abscess, it likely needs to be drained and then Diamond will likely need to be on a course of antibiotic therapy. Again, I would have a veterinarian take a look at this so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very hard to say without seeing Safire. It sounds like it could be a cyst (a large pimple). It is common for them to fill and burst. I recommend showing it to your vet at your next visit. They will stick a needle in it and look at the cells under the microscope to determine. Good luck and kisses to Safire!