My dog has a new spot on her skin overnight. Should I worry?

Thank you for your questions about Plutia. Most skin masses are benign and it’s not uncommon for dogs to get multiple skin masses (sometimes they are the same, sometimes not). Any time you see a new mass, I recommend to have it checked out by your veterinarian. One way to eliminate worrying is to have the masses aspirated. The doctor will collect a small sample of cells and look at it under a microscope. Then you will know what types of masses are present and if they are benign, then you don’t need to continue worrying. If they are malignant, then you will want to have them removed and she may require further therapy. I hope you find this helpful and please feel free to post any further questions.

Ouch! Any new change should always be checked out by your vet, especially if it's different from any other growths seen on the body. Skin tags and other growths can sometimes cause pockets of hair loss like this, however, other issues such as bacterial or fungal infections (like ringworm) can also cause round patches of hair loss like this as well, which need to be treated by a vet. A quick fine-needle aspirate can determine if there are any concerns, and if your vet suspects something bacterial or fungal, it can be treated with oral antibiotics and cleaning of the area. Until you get to your vet, keeping an eye on the spot for any changes in size/shape, and keeping Eddie from licking it can help monitor for changes and reduce the chances of a secondary issue. It's also important to keep the area clean and dry, and thoroughly wash your hands after handling the area as some bacterial/fungal causes can be contagious to people.

Ouch! I'd have that checked out by your vet in person, especially if it appeared suddenly or is bothersome to Bella. They can take a sample of the spot to rule out any more serious issues such as tumor growths, infections that need treatment, cysts, or see if it's something benign such as a skin tag or other small growth. Until you can get into your vet, it's a good idea to keep the area clean and dry, and monitor it for any signs of changes such as oozing debris, having irregular margins, worsening, etc, as these can all help your vet pinpoint the cause. An Elizabethan (cone) collar can also keep Bella from licking or chewing at it which can reduce irritation and prevent a secondary bacterial infection from taking hold.

Hi there. I'm so sorry to hear about Echo's troubles. In some cases, a lesion like that on the nose can just be from coming in contact with an irritant that could've just bothered the skin there. The irritant could've caused Echo to rub her nose on a surface and cause that lesion to appear. A staph infection can also develop around the area. Other things I look into if the lesion doesn't go away, starts to spread, or gets worse, are autoimmune diseases of the skin. I would advise just spot cleaning the area with some mild soap and water, like dial gold hand soap twice per day for a few days or some vetericyn wound spray. Creams or lotions will likely just be licked off, so I'd avoid using those. If it's not getting better in 3-5 days, I'd have Echo examined by her veterinarian to insure she doesn't need any diagonstic skin tests, or prescription medications to help the lesion resolve. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Davina. Without seeing her in person and putting our hands on the lesion it is difficult to tell. It could be a large pustule, a burn, scar tissue, a superficial tumor (some are benign meaning they don't spread or cause issues and can be left alone and others may be aggressive and require surgical removal). If the area is not getting smaller within a week I would recommend an examination in person at her veterinarian.

Skin lesions can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Some dogs can have pigmentation changes from chronic irritation to the area, while others can have normal pigmented areas similar to freckles. If the lesions are not resolving, are getting worse, or are spreading, I recommend making an appointment to have Molly seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the lesion you’ve noticed and to make sure they are treated appropriately. The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment.

Hello, my name is Dr. Shines and I am happy to help. The picture is not as clear as I would like but it looks like that's a very dark lesion with a raised central area. If that is accurate, I recommend to have Sparkie examined by the veterinarian this week. Lesions like this can be many things and big concerns are melanoma, mast cell tumor or hemangiocytoma. If it is cancerous, you want to get it removed asap. The veterinarian will likely insert a small needle to collect some cells for analysis. If the area is completely flat, and the skin has the normal texture of the rest of the skin, you can likely continue to monitor it. If it changes - becoming raised, scaly, dry, scabby or swollen, have Sparkie examined. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out with any additional questions.