What is this painful blister-like lump on my dog's back? Pop it?

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. This looks like a small cyst, nothing too worrisome. It may pop & if it does, just clean the area with a good skin antiseptic like Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ). A warm compress or soaking the foot in warm water for 10 minutes 2-3 times per day may bring things to a head sooner, but this does not appear to be at all dangerous. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It looks to be a small cyst. I would just leave it alone. It is only a cosmetic blemish. It is not causing any harm. If you want it off of her then you need to have your vet remove it as that will be a surgical procedure. That is not really necessary unless it is bothering her. If you try to "pop" it , it will just come back and you may introduce infection into the cyst and cause an abscess. Really, no treatment is needed. Just leave it alone. 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.

Hello. Lucas has a small infected plaque, but nothing to be overly concerned about. Do not pop this, but do pick up a skin antiseptic called Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ) & gently clean the area 2-3 times a day. If it pops on its own, just continue to clean the skin until it heals. Lucas should be just fine. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. I really do not think this is cancerous or a tumor. It does look like a small cyst, or even a benign skin tag, so just keep an eye on this for now, but do not worry, just show this to your veterinarian at Evie's next scheduled visit. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, It's impossible to truly know exactly what it is without doing a fine needle aspirate of it. Although it could just be acne or a sebaceous cyst or ingrown hair. I would not worry about it. Have your vet take another look at the next appointment and see what they say. Hope this helps!