How to care for my senior dog's large, bleeding skin growth?

Sorry to hear that Didis is having these issues. Based on the photo, that appears to be some sort of mass that is now ulcerating. The area should be treated as if it were an open wound that is infected, and thus, she should be receiving antibiotics orally. The only way to obtain these will be with a veterinary examination and a prescription. If this is not possible, the best thing you can do is shave the hair that is surrounding the lesion, scrub the area with dilute betadine or chlorhexidine, and keep it as clean as possible. You can also apply something topically to the lesion such as triple antibiotic, though his may or may not be effective. Do not bandage or cover the area, as this will only serve to trap bacteria into the area. Hope this helps.

Hello, sorry to hear about Tippu. The skin directly on that nodule does look different compared to the surrounding skin. I would be worried that it could potentially be something malignant, especially if it continues to bleed and is not bigger. It may be small enough to remove on its own and submit it for histopathology. If it comes back positive for a malignant tumor, and clean margins were not achieved, then potentially amputation of the tail may follow biopsy. If it is malignant, then you will likely need to obtain chest x-rays and maybe an abdominal ultrasound to rule out evidence of spread. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tia. If the mass continues to bleed or becomes infected again, then I would have it removed. Continue to clean it. If it heals, then it should be fine to leave it. I hope this information helps!

It is very common for older, small breed dogs to get these benign warts. I usually only recommend removal if they are causing issues (like this one). If you can't get it to heal you may have to have it surgically removed. I suggest you order this wound spray to put on it. Use as directed. If no improvement, have your vet check it out. ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vetericyn-Wound-Skincare-Hydrogel-Spray/dp/B071DQZCXD/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=vetericyn&qid=1563539479&s=gateway&sr=8-3 )

No, there is not really anything you can do for the bleeding, unfortunately. What I would recommend is that you apply this Biozide Gel. Apply to the wound, put a non-stick Telfa pad on it and then bandage it. Change the bandage every 1-2 days. https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=101737 https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=104377 https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=109629 You do need to keep that bandaged and do not allow him to lick/chew it. So, you should have him wear a cone. The cone needs to be long enough to go past the end of his nose. You can use a soft-sided collar if you wish.

If your vet recommends removing the growth, it's likely a good idea. In a senior dog like Cookie, there is always a chance it could be cancer, which is why it's ideal to remove it to prevent it from spreading. If the growth is cut out with wide margins and the cancer hasn't already spread, it is possible that it can be cured completely without further treatment. The vet will do everything they can to remove the tumor fully, and I would imagine they would let you know if there was a concern that it couldn't be removed completely or if she wouldn't heal properly. I do advocate for removing growths in a senior dog especially if there is a concern it's cancer, but I highly recommend speaking to your vet about your concerns. Having an in-depth conversation with them may help allay your worries. I hope this helps!

That is a very large tumor that has likely outgrown its blood supply and is opening up. You can’t tell what type of tumor it is without aspirating the cells. At this point, the best option is to remove the tumor but it’s so large that this may be difficult but not impossible. I recommend to have this pup seen by the veterinarian as she needs medications to help the bleeding and a mass removal. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.