My dog has a red bump on his ear flap. Should I see a vet & cost?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Red. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He could have an ear infection causing the red bumps. This is typically accompanied by shaking of the head, scratching the ears and discharge coming from the ears. If this is not the case, an allergic reaction could be to blame. His veterinarian will examine him and determine the best course of treatment for him. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for sending there photo of Isha. From the photo the bump looks like a cyst but I think new lumps and bumps should always be investigated by a veterinarian. They can examine her and her ear and potentially take a small aspirated sample of the bump to look at it under a microscope or send to a pathologist. This is the way to rule out whether it is a tumor or not.

This may be an abscess, a cyst or a tumor. You should have it examined by your veterinarian, as it is not possible to distinguish these by just looking at a photo. An abscess can usually be treated with antibiotics and/or be lanced, and a cyst can be evacuated. To identify a tumor, your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.

Thank you for the picture and clarification. This looks like it could be an aural hematoma, which is when fluid gets trapped between the layers of the ear. This is usually a sign of an ear infection. I'd have this checked out by a vet.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have Reggie evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If it truly was not there yesterday, this is most likely to be a bug bite (tick, mosquito, spider, bee, other), dog/cat bite (if he was wrestling with any other friends lately), or some other random trauma (crashing through a spiky bush or catching it on something). If you're unsure how long it's been there, add cyst, benign or malignant tumor, and others to the list of possibilities. I'd slap some neosporin on there twice daily and watch it. If no improvement in 3 days (or if worsening at any time), it's time to see the vet. This goes for any accompanying facial swelling, vomiting, or diarrhea, as these could be signs of serious allergic reaction. Best of luck to you and Lucky!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bear. This bump could be a benign or malignant growth. 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 to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!