My dog has red splotches, bleeding gums, and a growing tumor. Is it serious?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Coco and for providing a picture of her lump, that is very helpful. I'm not sure when you last discussed having it removed with her vet, but given that it has grown more and is bleeding, I think you should discuss removing it again. Due to her age, there is a chance this lump could be cancer, but it needs to biopsied first before any determination could be made as to whether or not it's cancer. I'd schedule an appointment with her vet. I hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Moco! Due to his age, the appearance and the location it looks like a histiocytoma. Which is a benign mass in young dogs. They tend to resolve on their own in a few months but sometimes if they ulcerate, grow rapidly, become infected or bleed we recommend removing them. Another possibility is a mast cell tumor. I would suggest having it looked at my your vet. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/article/histiocytoma-in-dogs/

Hello. Platelets are needed for blood to clot, so if platelets are low you will see actual bruising ( black & blue spots ) or discrete blood spots in the skin or on the mucous membranes. A simple CBC ( complete blood count ) will report the number of platelets *& tell you if there is a problem or not. What you are describing with the redness & inflammation sounds more like an allergic reaction, something that can affect the skin in this area very commonly. If you are worried about platelets, consider having the blood work done. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree this sounds concerning and I recommend to have Kobe examined by the veterinarian. With the history of a recurrent mass/injury, I'm concerned there is an underlying reason. There are a few reasons and one can be quite serious: a skin cancer called a Mast Cell Tumor. Testing for this skin cancer is generally easy thankfully. Kobe shouldn't need sedation or stitches as long as he will stay still for a quick needle poke. In the mean time, you'll want to protect the lesion from infection. 1. Stop any licking (since this can make it worse) - Kobe should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. - Remember that the collar must come out past his nose in order to be effective. 2. Next, wash the area once a day with either plain hand soap (like Dial) or a medicated pet shampoo. Rinse the area well and gently towel dry. -This will help to control the number of topical pathogens as well as remove oil and dead skin cells. 3. Lastly, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day to the red areas. Make sure the skin is dry before application. -Just a dab will do and rub it in well. Neosporin is fine to use. 4. Keep the paw clean and dry *Always wear gloves to handle this lesion and wash your hands afterwards. I hope things get figured out quickly! Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mindy! The discoloration or redness is with in the skin. It could be bruising, trauma or a dermatitis. If she is acting 100% normal today I would have her seen Monday by your Vet. If she is lethargic, not eating or vomiting then she should be seen on emergency today. If it is bruising the Vet will likely check blood work (to check for low platelets) and her clotting times. You can check other areas on her body for bruising or bleeding: gums and the ear pinna are common areas when there is a bleeding issue. I hope this helps and I wish Mindy the very best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. There could several causes of this. I would suspect a toxin that was ingested or a systemic disease that is causing abnormal bleeding into the surrounding tissues of the body. It is difficult to say for sure just based on these clinical signs. If you have any other questions or concerns please feel free to contact me and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to know for sure just based on a description. This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. 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. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as soon as possible as his weight loss and blood loss are quite concerning. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!