My dog has a red lump with a scab. Is it an injury or something worse?

Hello, thank you for your question about Sky. Based on the photo you've attached it is possible that this lesion is secondary to a blood blister or cyst-like lesion. It could also be a mild skin infection. Dogs can develop skin masses/tumors such as mast cell tumors. I would recommend having Sky seen by your veterinarian so that they can examine the area and discuss the need for additional testing such as an impression of the area or collecting a small needle sample. Hope this helps!

According to the picture this looks like a wart that Lady scratched and now has a scab on it. Since she is bothering with it and seems uncomfortable I would take her to see your veterinarian. They can make sure it is nothing else like a scratch that got infected or a different type of growth that go infected and scabbed over. They also will be able to give her a topical ointment to place on the area to help with any type of infection. If this is something that continues to bother her or scab over I would recommend removing it so it does not continually get infected and bother her. If she is scratching at it I would put an e-collar on her so she does not make it worse. As dogs age it is very common for them to get more warts like these, some may bother them while others will not.

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!

It would be helpful to see a picture of the lesion (you can submit photos by selecting "consult online" below your answer), but without seeing it I'd say that it could be a rupturing cyst, a foreign body (depends on where on the body it is - very common on the feet), or a tumor (mast cell tumors can get inflamed and scab over - histiocytomas do as well). If it's been there a couple of weeks, it's probably time to have it looked at in order to figure out exactly what it is. Bulldogs are prone to mast cell tumors, and they can be quite serious if not removed.

If this just appears to be a crusted area and is not raised, it is possible this was an insect bite that got irritated or a small scratch/wound. If the lesion is raised (I can't really tell from the appearance) then we sometimes get warty skin growths that can get traumatized and bleed/crust over. I would wash the area with a mild soap or Hibiclens (available at most drug stores) and apply a topical antibiotic like Polysporin or Neosporin a few times day. If she is scratching/rubbing at the area she may need an e-collar for a few days to stop self-trauma. If the lesions isn't improving after several days of this or it starts to get larger/other spots appear then these would be reasons to seek veterinary care.

Hi, would you mind to post a picture ? This would help understand if the raised area is just a scab and part of normal healing process or rather an infection getting worse (small abscess developing ). Hope this helps,

As long as Georgia doesn't seem bothered by it, I think you could watch it right now. Most dogs who are healthy are able to heal superficial wounds just like humans. If the area starts looking worse or she begins to seem uncomfortable, then have her checked out. If you notice it feels like a mass or tumor, have it checked out. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any additional questions!