My dog has a recurring black scab on his groin. Vet visit needed?

Hi there! It looks like Marley may have some chronic skin issues, and the growth on his back can definitely be a cyst of some kind. Due to his age, it always good to have senior dogs examined, as their growths could be cancerous. Something like a cyst can be easily removed, and then sent out for biopsy. In the meantime, the growth, since it's bloody and oozing, is almost like an open wound, so he would likely benefit from some medications to apply topically and depending on what the veterinarian says during the exam, maybe some oral medications until the growth stops oozing or can be removed. The darkly pigmented skin on the underside could be from something like chronic skin allergies and scratching, so this is something that I'd have Marley examined for too. I don't think there's a huge rush in getting Marley to the vet, but I'd make sure he has an exam within a few days for the reasons I mentioned above. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

I see that Tyson is a boxer, and they can be prone to mast cell tumors. Of course this could be a scab, but without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain. 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 his vet a call in the morning to make him an appointment. I hope this helps.

This is likely a tumor that needs to be examined and possibly removed by your veterinarian, since it keeps growing back. Please take your dog to your vet soon,. The vet will likely want to do a Fine needle aspirate to determine what type of mass it is and whether it needs to be removed.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend taking Sable to the vet to look at the growth closer and find out what it is. The vet can stick a needle in it and look at the cells under a microscope to determine if it’s cancerous or not. Because the tissue/skin is fragile it likely won’t stop bleeding and may need to be surgically removed. I would leave it alone until the vet looks at it so you don’t disrupt the blood clot that forms. Good luck and kisses to Sable!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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. This may be enough to diagnose her growth. 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 day!

These are unusual spots on Marley. You are treating them correctly but since they are not going away I recommend you take him to your veterinarian to have an exam and they can do tests on these spots to see if they are cancer. They could be an infection with yeast or bacteria, mange, or benign growths. Like you though I am concerned and want you to get askin scraping, aspirate or biopsy of one of these soon so Marley can start treatment if needed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Marley.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Marvin has been going through so many issues. It does appear that he has developed a growth on his back leg, and I do recommend all abnormal growths be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if they are benign (non-cancerous) or not. While it could be a cyst, insect bite, or wart, there are certain types of skin cancer (such as mast cell tumors) that can look similar to what you are seeing. I would recommend Marvin see his regular veterinarian and have a needle aspirate to help determine what the growth might be, and determine any further treatment that may be needed. Good luck!