My senior dog has a large black scab on her back. Should I worry?

This looks like a papilloma wart that got irritated (ie: she scratched it or something). I would not be overly concerned about it. You are welcome to put some Neosporin on it to help it heal. These "warts" are very common in small breed dogs. As always, you know your dog best, if you are worried then you should have her examined by your vet.

It doesn't appear to be related to fleas. It could be an injury but it could also be the start of a tumor. I would recommend you leave it alone and monitor it for about a week. Don't pick at it or apply anything to it. If it is just a scab from an injury it should be much improved if not all the way healed in that time frame. If it is virtually the same or just a tad bit improved then I would have your vet check that spot out. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Poor Poppy! Dogs can develop skin conditions at any age. In older dogs things such as endocrine diseases and food allergies are more common. If you notice the lesions are getting worse, then I would recommend to have him seen by his veterinarian. The doctor will take a look at him and get a thorough history and may recommend some blood tests if an underlying cause is suspected. The doctor will also recommend treatment for the lesions. At home, washing the lesions in an antibacterial hand soap and rinsing them well once a day can help to exfoliate and cleanse the skin. You can apply a dab of coconut oil and rub it in well once the skin is dry. You need to make sure however that he does not lick the coconut oil. This may help but if there is an underlying cause, the lesions will simply come back. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions!

There is a large number of reasons for scabs to develop on a dog's body. It might be a simple as a skin infection which is the most common reason that we see scabs, but it certainly could be something else. I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Lilly to see what they think. If it appears to be a skin infection (pyoderma). There are a number of treatment options for pyoderma. Sometimes we can resolve them with topical treatment (antibacterial shampoos, sprays or wipes), but sometimes they require oral or injectable antibiotics. Here is an article on pyoderma. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1571 However, we still need to look for the cause of the pyoderma. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types) or external parasites (such as fleas or mites). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2604 Often the first step is making sure there isn’t any evidence of external parasites that need to be treated. You may still be dealing with a flea allergy even if you have treated Lilly for fleas. Once a flea bites a flea allergy dog, that dog can stay itchy for a week. Here is additional information on fleas causing itching in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2455 So, to answer your question, I wouldn't be worried, but I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Lilly to discuss your treatment options. Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Any lumps/bumps/sores that you notice on your dog should be checked out by your vet. They are usually one of three things: * abscess (infection) * cyst * cancer There is no way I can tell you what it is via the internet especially without examining her myself. At her age I would be very worried about a tumor.

These areas do look like a type of skin infection. If Lily is having recurrent ones or they never seem to completely resolve, I think it is time to look for an underlying problem that could be contributing. In an older dog, the best place to start is actually with a blood panel. This panel should include a thyroid hormone level check . Hypothyroidism or under active thyroid is a very common cause for chronic skin problems. This blood panel can also screen for Cushing's Disease which is an adrenal gland disorder that can also cause chronic skin problems. If the bloodwork is all normal, ask your veterinarian about doing a skin biopsy. This cDNA be done with light sedation and will give the best information.

The skin does look a bit irritated. If the scabs aren't healing, more appear, the area is very itchy or bothersome to Teddy, or it changes more in appearance, a vet visit is best to rule out issues such as infections, growths, allergies, etc. Keeping it clean and dry and keeping Teddy from pawing/licking at it can also help reduce irritation as it heals.