My dog has a white growth on his anus and is licking. Is it serious?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. Based on the location, often times these tumors are benign in nature and are known as perianal adenomas though about 10% are malignant and again it could be really any other tumor type. 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 day!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These look classic for perianal gland tumors. This is very common in intact dogs. The majority of these tumors are benign though a small percentage of them are malignant. I recommend you take him to your veterinarian for a test called a fine needle aspirate which can help distinguish these tumors from other more concerning tumors. If it truly is a perianal gland tumor, most of the time they resolve or greatly improved by neutering the dog as they are driven by hormones. If they are not bothering him, this may be enough. In cases when they are starting to bother the dog, you can also consider removal. Feel free to request a consult with me if wanting more information on the next steps. Good luck with your pup!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This lump/bump/growth should be ideally examined by your local vet to have a diagnosis established. Your vet may want to perform an FNA (fine needle aspiration) or a biopsy to sample the bump and determine its underlying nature. Differentials would include skin cysts, infections, benign or more malignant type of tumors. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

From what I can see from the photo I think this looks more like inflammation or infection. Sometimes when dogs have diarrhoea they rub their bums which can lead to raw skin which in turn can become infected. Another possibility is an anal gland infection, these can burst out suddenly. There is always a possibility that it could be a tumour but it doesn't look like the typical tumours you get around the anus. With appropriate treatment an infection should heal within one to two weeks, whereas tumours would require more investigation/invasive treatment. I would chat to your bet about getting some meds for your dog if they haven't been prescribed already. Running bloods would also be prudent and may give further clues to the cause.

It's a little difficult to tell from your picture alone - being able to examine and touch a lump in person makes it much easier to determine what it is. This could be a skin tumor, a small abscess or inflammatory nodule, or a lesion from something like contact hypersensitivity. I would recommend having this lump examined by your veterinarian since it looks red and possibly like there is discharge. If he is licking or chewing at the lump you should put an e-collar on him until you can see a veterinarian. They may know what it is after being able to examine it or may recommend taking an aspirate sample using a small needle to look for cells under the microscope.

I see that Baobei isn't neutered, and a type of tumor called a perianal adenoma are common in intact males. There is a malignant version of this tumor called a perianal adenocarcinoma, and while it is is less common that the perianal adenoma, it carries a fair to guarded prognosis. I would have him seen by a vet to diagnose if this growth is benign or malignant, and the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is unlikely to be something of concern and most likely represents a region of pigmentation. However, I recommend you keep a close eye on it and if at some point it appears to become a mass, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Good luck and have a good night!