My dog has a neck lump and itchy ears. Should I be concerned?

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry that Cooper has a lump on his neck. Unfortunately, we cannot diagnose a lump based on what it looks like. Therefore, I would take Cooper to a veterinarian to perform a full physical exam and determine if is in fact a lump that needs to be tested or a wound/abscess or something else. Based on what it is, your veterinarian will determine the best treatment. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do recommend all abnormal growths be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if they are benign (non-cancerous) or not. Skin growths can be due to a variety of reasons, including allergies, infection, allergies, warts, or true tumors. What type of growth it is typically can be evaluated by a needle sample by your veterinarian, and then a treatment plan can be made, if needed. Good luck!

This lump on Johnstamos (LOVE his name!) could be a cyst, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Because it has tripled in size, that does make it concerning. 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. As for the scabby and crusty ears, those could be due to an ear infection or allergies. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment to have both these things checked out. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I do recommend that all new bumps or lumps be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if they are benign (non-cancerous) or not. There are multiple non-concerning growths of the skin (such as adenomas or warts) that do not need to be addressed, but there are certain types of skin cancer (such as mast cell tumors) that would need to be removed in order to be cured. I would recommend having Ebony evaluated by her regular veterinarian to determine if these bumps are concerning or not, and if any treatment is needed. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m sorry to hear Bella has a bump on her ear. I do recommend all new growths new evaluated by your regular veterinarian to determine if they are malignant (cancer) or not. I would keep your appointment, but if you are very concerned you could call and see if they have any earlier availabilities. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bertie. Lumps generally fall into a few broad categories including growths/tumors which can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer), granulomas which are a collection of inflammatory cells, abscess/infection, among others. In young dogs, a common benign tumor called a histiocytoma can develop. These are raised growths, often pink and somewhat flat like a button. These growths oftentimes resolve on their own without treatment. I would advise that your veterinarian take a look at Bertie. They can get a detailed history and do a complete physical exam focusing on the area of the growth, They may advise diagnostics such as a fine needle aspirate or a biopsy of the growth to determine what it is. If they suspect a histiocytoma they may just advise monitoring the area but to also be on the lookout for any scratching of the ear/growth. Once a diagnosis is obtained or suspected, a sound treatment plan can be discussed. The ear is a tricky area for growths and their removal because of the lack of skin to close over the incision if they are removed. Thus, a growth in this area warrants a quick analysis by your vet. Good luck with Bertie.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. These could even be due to an infection or an allergic reaction like you pointed out. This is often differentiated by an exam and 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 him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!