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Senior dog has gray scaly skin & bloody growth. When should I see a vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 11 years and 4 months old

I work at a dog kennel and an elderly dog who is a mix of a golden retriever and lab (and probly some other stuff) can on today and I’ve notice the skin on the left side of his belly just before his hind leg is gray and a little bit scaly feeling. He also has what looks sort of like a skin tag on his back but the skin on it feels like a scab and it has puss and a little bit of blood on it. Is this something he needs to be treated for right away?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Eryn Taormina, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 13th, 2018

Hi there! It looks like Marley may have some chronic skin issues, and the growth on his back can definitely be a cyst of some kind. Due to his age, it always good to have senior dogs examined, as their growths could be cancerous. Something like a cyst can be easily removed, and then sent out for biopsy. In the meantime, the growth, since it's bloody and oozing, is almost like an open wound, so he would likely benefit from some medications to apply topically and depending on what the veterinarian says during the exam, maybe some oral medications until the growth stops oozing or can be removed.
The darkly pigmented skin on the underside could be from something like chronic skin allergies and scratching, so this is something that I'd have Marley examined for too.
I don't think there's a huge rush in getting Marley to the vet, but I'd make sure he has an exam within a few days for the reasons I mentioned above.
I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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