My dog has a skin lump that swells, looks like a pimple, and has pus.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. 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 her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The area in the picture looks like an area of what I would call excoriation or skin irritation usually seen when a dog scratches an area extensively due to itching. The yellowish area can be a pimple or what we call a pustule (a pimple containing pus). Pimples and pustules are usually raised lesions, extending up from the skin. It's a little difficult making out much detail in the picture. Sometimes damaged areas of skin turn yellowish like that and are usually flat in appearance, not raised up like a pimple/pustule. I hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Suzie! It's hard to see the growth well from your picture and sadly a lot of skin growths can look the same, even benign vs cancerous ones. I always recommend that any new growths be evaluated by your Vet. Possible causes are: a skin infection, sebaceous adenoma, a wound or abscess, histiocytoma, mast cell tumor, etc. You can start with shaving the fur away from the growth, cleaning it twice daily with mild soap and water and then applying a triple antibiotic cream twice daily. If Suzie is licking the area use an E-collar to prevent that. If the area doesn't improve in a few days then have your Vet examine it. I hope this helps and I wish Suzie the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. What you are describing sounds as though this may be a cyst of some sort. However, I would be unable to confirm this with just a description. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine the growth so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. The vet can insert a small needle into the mass and look at the fluid / cells under a microscope to help determine what it could be, a test called a fine needle aspirate with cytology. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is probably a small abscess or focus of infection. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian. They can prescribe a topical or systemic antibiotic for her which may be enough to treat this if they agree it is an infection. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be the site of an infection. 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 your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Without seeing Buddy it is hard to say what the swelling was. From your description it sounds like a cyst. A cyst is a fluid-filled pocket under the skin. They can have fluid or a thick substance. Sometimes the contents can come out but the only way to fully treat a cyst is to have it surgically removed. If it isn’t bothering Buddy though, it doesn’t need to be removed. I would take Buddy to a vet to have this confirmed and they can discuss your options further. Good luck and kisses to Buddy!