My dog has a scabby wart-like growth on her head. What could it be?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. Based on its appearance, this is most likely a benign sebaceous adenoma. 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 your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good one!

Thanks for sending the picture! It appears to be a wart like growth with a small scab on top. These are common in small breed dogs. If it grows or changes rapidly, then I would still have her veterinarian check it out. Otherwise I do not suspect it will be a problem for her. You can try to clean the scab off for her. Good luck!

I recommend that you have this mass evaluated by a veterinarian. It sounds like it may be some type of cancer; whether benign or malignant would need additional diagnostics such as fine needle aspirate in a clinic or removal and histopathology. Possibilities include papilloma, hemangioma, mast cell tumor, among many other possibilities. If it is bleeding, you can apply firm pressure for 15 minutes.

I would guess that Max's 'warts' might actually be skin growths known as adenomas, which are benign skin tumors that look very similar to a wart. Dogs can also develop contagious papillomas around their mouths, ears and feet which are more like typical warts but these are not as common. I would recommend making an appointment to see your veterinarian to have them take a look and determine whether or not there is any concern.

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 sending in the pictures of Oliver. It is a little difficult for me to make out the pictures, but it appears like he has a small skin growth on his head that has scabbed over. I would gently clean the scab and dried blood away with a warm wash cloth. If there is a flesh colored growth it may be a wart like mass. They are common in many dogs as they age. If he has been scratching at his head, then it could be self trauma secondary to his allergies. If it bothers him or does not resolve, then have your veterinarian evaluate him.

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.