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My dog has a new, pus-filled lump on her neck. Is it an emergency?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Boerboel | Female | unspayed | 5 years and 1 month old

My dog has a lump on her neck the size of a baseball cap. It is excreting puss. It has just popped up in the past three days what is it and must I seek urgent medical care?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on January 8th, 2017

Poor Sasha! It sounds like you might be seeing an abscess, which is an infection under the skin. It can cause swelling, pain on touch, a hot feeling and pop or ooze debris such as pus or discolored drainage. Any swelling on the face or neck is concerning, and abscesses can worsen quickly, so it is best to seek veterinary care ASAP. Your vet can safely drain it and may recommend leaving a drain in for a few days while providing antibiotics to help it heal.

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