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Why is my puppy's head bump getting bigger and bleeding frequently?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 7 months and 30 days old | 30 lbs

My puppy has a bump on his head, at first it looked like a scab, but it has since gotten bigger and bleeds frequently.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 31st, 2018

Hello. Any chronic lesion should be investigated by your veterinarian. This looks
like some kind of abscess or perhaps even a foreign body under the skin. He is a bit young for a cancer, but young dogs can get benign growths. In the meantime, gently clean the area with an antibacterial skin wash such as Hibiclens ( available at any pharmacy ), but if it does not dry up soon, I would like you to have Cammo examined by your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 29th, 2017
Oh no, poor Cooper! It is concerning that this bump has gotten bigger and is bleeding. This bump could be a cyst, an abscess, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Any suspicious bumps should be examined by the vet. The vet may perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the bump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. I would have Cooper seen by a vet today to have the bump examined and diagnosed, and treated as needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ann Dion, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 18th, 2018
Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Lumps and bumps cannot be diagnosed officially without a sample being taken and sent away for histopathology. Since it has been present for a while and is just recently getting bigger, this makes a wart more likely, however based on how it looks I would be worried about it being a type of cancer called a Mast Cell Tumor. I would recommend having a sample taken by your vet, and possibly having it surgically removed. It is most likely a wart, however I would recommend having it checked. Best of luck with your little one!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog's white bump is now red, bleeding, and oozing. Why?

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!

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