Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 9 years and 1 month old | 18 lbs
My dog has a pimple looking dot on his nose. It looks like it’s filled with puss. Is it okay for me to touch or should I go to the vet ?
4 Answers
Published on November 6th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be the site of an infection. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!
8Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on October 2nd, 2018
Thank you for including the picture, it is very helpful. Young dogs often get a skin infection that is commonly called “puppy pyoderma”. It can be as mild as 1 or 2 pustules such as what is likely on the sheath if Maverick’s penis, or they can be severe and covered in pustules. I would watch the lesion closely over the next few days and monitor for any others. If he appears to be developing more rather than it going away then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on July 11th, 2018
This could be a little pus-filled pimple, a cyst or a little abscess. It could also be a wart or other small tumor. Unfortunately I would have to palpate it in order to give you a more specific answer. I suggest you make an appointment with your vet and have this mass examined. If it is a solid mass, your vet may want to do a little biopsy harvesting cells from the mass with a fine needle which will determine whether this is a growth that will need to be removed. If this "pimple" has some content such as pus, fluid or grease then he may want to empty it.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on February 5th, 2017
It sounds like this pimple is infected if it's filled with pus and blood, and Aris should see a vet for it. Do not pop it yourself, as you will introduce more infection into it. The vet can drain it sterilely and can give him antibiotics to treat the infection.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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