My senior dog is pawing at a dark lump in his ear. Tick or cyst?

Question

I discovered a unusual dark colored lump in my dogs ear canal. I'm not sure if its a tick or cyst of some sort. He has been pawing at it. He is a 13 years old male shih tzu...and is cystic prone...he has many types, large and small throughout his body...poor little guy...Thank you in advance... Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | neutered | 13 years old | 21 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

This lump in Nico's ear could be a cyst, but it could also be a benign tumor or a malignant tumor. Unfortunately in a senior dog, there is always a chance a lump could be a malignant tumor. I would have Nico seen by a vet for this lump first thing Monday. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump 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. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options.

My senior dog is pawing at a dark lump in his ear. Tick or cyst?

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