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My dog's tail has a crater wound with white discharge. Is it a cyst?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | neutered | 4 years and 5 months old | 90 lbs

Cody had a 1/4 skin tag on his tail. It got pulled out and a crater formed with like a moat around it. Vet put him on Silver cream. Getting white substance out of it. Base of it if hard like a wart with crater in the middle of it. Can this be cauterized? Senior Vet is thinking this. Cody gets seb. cysts. Thank you.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on July 22nd, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If these are Benign cysts, the best course of action if they are causing him discomfort is to have them removed. They may be able in this case to remove the tissue around it so that it stops bothering him. Another alternative is to treat it medically with antibiotics. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 18th, 2018
Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. We would be able to assist you better if you could post again with some photos. It is very difficult to give advice without seeing at least a photo.

If the original problem was a sebaceous cyst, then yes, it could be opening again and having discharge. They will never go away unless surgically removed even though they are benign. Cysts have a lining to them that produce the discharge so until the lining is removed it will continue to have issues.

Hope this helps but again, if you want to post with photos we could maybe give you better advice. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on July 19th, 2018
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Cody!

It either wasn't JUST a skin tag or the crater became infected after it was pulled. I would have the swelling removed. If it is smaller than 8mm and Cody is a calm dog at the Vet maybe they can use a local anesthetic and remove it with a punch biopsy. They would have to use stitches with that method, so he would have to wear the cone for 10-14 days. I think removing the swelling is the best way to solve this problem.

I wish you and Cody the best!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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