My puppy has a pus-filled lump on his leg. What should I do?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bruno. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He may need a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate to diagnose the mass. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This will help to determine the type of mass and guide treatment. A histiocytoma is a common mass on the limb of a young dog. This is a benign growth. However, the outward appearance is the same as a cancerous growth known as a mast cell tumor. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him so that he does not cause any self-trauma. I hope this information helps!

That looks like an infection. This could be an issue by itself or ir could be related to ringworm (which humans can get) or a foreign object trapped under the skin. Zues needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times and he needs to be examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps.

I can see the small, raised, slightly red hairless lump on Hazel's paw in the photo. This may be a bug bite, localized skin infection, or a mass (which is less likely in younger dogs). I recommend having the area examined by a vet to determine the underlying cause and begin the appropriate treatment. In the meantime, you can get Hazel an E-collar or "cone" to prevent her licking the area and causing further trauma and irritation.

Without a physical exam or diagnostics, it is difficult to determine if this is something to worry over. Ideally, a fine needle aspirate or biopsy should be done to collect samples for pathology. This may provide a diagnosis. X-rays of the limb may be recommended to rule out bony involvement. Since you state it is growing, it should be removed before it becomes too large. As it is, that is a difficult area to close after a mass removal.

It could be an infection, cyst, or possibly a hystiocytoma. The best thing would be to have a vet take a look at the lesion. Your vet can do a needle aspirate to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or it may need to be removed. Hope he feels better soon!

That is a large, lobulated lump (no just one defined lump) in a location that would generally never have something like a swollen lymph nodes. I recommend making an appointment with your vet for a fine needle aspirate (where they aspirate cells from the mass and put them on a slide to be sent out for review) to determine if it is an abscess or a tumor/cancer of some sort. Best wishes for Diesel!

This appears to be a pustule (pus-filled bump), which indicates that Sebastian has a pyoderma (bacterial skin infection). You can help remove these and keep them from coming back by cleaning the area with a medicated shampoo (can find this at the pet store) daily. Clean the area for at-least ten minutes at a time using warm water and a cloth. Wipe the skin gently, but do not scrub. Don't be surprised if some of these lesions pop - this is perfectly fine. Continue the daily cleaning until you don't see these bumps anymore. If it's not getting better within two weeks, then it's best to take Sebastian to the vet. He may need stronger medication to clear this problem and they can also ensure that his overall health is OK. I hope that helps and Sebastian gets better soon.