What is this raised bump on my dog's skin that popped and left a hole?

This looks like a typica skin wart/skin tumor or cyst. Since it has been present for so long and has not grown at all, it is probably benign (non cancerous). It looks as if the area has been irritated somehow, probably by your dog scratching at it, and is now bleeding and may be infected. Or, if it is a cyst, the white material may just be cystic exudate. I would recommend cleaning the area with some dilute hydrogen peroxide then applying some antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection and to help it heal more quickly. Occasionally these need to be removed but only if they are a constant source of irritation or infection for the dog. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

I'm glad to hear that Ivy doesn't seem to be bothered by this lesion, despite how inflamed and irritated it appears. While it's impossible to say definitively what the cause of this lesion is without further diagnostics, I can say that it's possible that this could be an irritated insect bite, or a benign or malignant mass. Given the irregular surface of this lesion, I think a bite/sting is unlikely, but the possibility shouldn't be ignored. Since it's so red and obvious, we have to assume that it popped up pretty quickly since you're just noticing it. As a result, I do think that you should have this checked out by your vet in person in the coming week. After an exam, your vet will likely want to perform a fine needle aspirate, where they'll use a needle to draw out a few cells for microscopic evaluation. That will help them to determine if this is more of an inflammatory/infectious issue rather than a more aggressive lesion. In the meantime, be sure to keep a close eye on Ivy. If she starts to lick this area at all, put an e-collar (cone) on her, as the licking will only cause further irritation. I hope that everything goes well!

It's quite possible that the little bump on Booboo's back is a cyst. While most cysts are benign (especially ones in young dogs), their size can fluctuate as they fill with fluid, rupture, then refill. When cysts rupture, they can cause little crusts or scabs on the surface of the skin. These lesions can become infected if a dog licks or scratches at the area, but most of the time, they don't cause any problems. I don't see evidence of infection in the picture. For now, I think it's reasonable to keep an eye on the area for changes. If you want to clean it with an antiseptic to err on the side of caution, Hibiclens and betadine are both good over the counter options, but be sure to rinse well afterwards. Unless this lesion gets larger, has more discharge, or irritates Booboo, I don't think you need to take a trip to the vet for this lesion alone. That said, be sure to mention it to your vet the next time Booboo is due for an exam so that they can check it out. I hope that everything goes well!

Poor Sparkles! This lesion could be a result of an infected sebaceous cyst, infected insect bite, or a benign or malignant mass. Sparkles will need to go to her vet for an exam and may need a course of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications to help the lesion heal. Until you can get to the vet, you can use clippers to shave the hair around this hole and clean the area with an antiseptic soap (such as chlorhexidine or betadine). Be sure to keep an e-collar (cone) on Sparkles to prevent her from starting to lick or chew on this lesion, as that will only make matters worse. The vet will be able to perform any necessary diagnostics to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that all goes well!

Hello, my name is Dr. Shines and I am happy to help. Dogs can get all kinds of skin masses as well as things like pimples and ingrown hairs. Most of these lesions will be benign but a few will be cancerous. Unfortunately, you can't always tell from looks alone. If the bump doesn't seem to hurt or bother Bentley, you might try applying a warm (not hot) compress every couple hours for 10 minutes. If this is an ingrown hair or pimple, this might help it to come to a head. If it seems to bother him, have him examined. If the bump is still there in 2 weeks, I'd go ahead and have Bentley examined. There's one type of skin cancer called a Mast Cell Tumor and they commonly look red/pink, hairless and raised. If the doctor is concerned, they'll test it. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out with any additional questions.

While I can't tell for sure from the picture, I believe this may be dried discharge from a cyst. Poodles and other breeds with continually growing hair are more prone to sebaceous cyst formation. Sometimes these cysts can rupture and push out a thick cheesy material. When this material dries it can form a crust that when removed reveals the inside of the cyst. I would keep the area clean and monitor for any signs of redness, continued discharge or swelling. Do not allow Pogo to lick at the area and if it becomes inflamed he should be seen by your veterinarian.

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.