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My dog has a dark, bleeding growth that keeps coming back. What is it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Staffordshire Terrier | Male | neutered | 5 years and 7 months old | 72 lbs

dog has a blister/growth that started bleeding, became very dark after several hours, before it was more pink/red. This has happened before and would heal but looks like it keeps coming back

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on March 13th, 2024

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree this sounds concerning and I recommend to have Kobe examined by the veterinarian. With the history of a recurrent mass/injury, I'm concerned there is an underlying reason. There are a few reasons and one can be quite serious: a skin cancer called a Mast Cell Tumor. Testing for this skin cancer is generally easy thankfully. Kobe shouldn't need sedation or stitches as long as he will stay still for a quick needle poke. In the mean time, you'll want to protect the lesion from infection. 1. Stop any licking (since this can make it worse) - Kobe should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. - Remember that the collar must come out past his nose in order to be effective. 2. Next, wash the area once a day with either plain hand soap (like Dial) or a medicated pet shampoo. Rinse the area well and gently towel dry. -This will help to control the number of topical pathogens as well as remove oil and dead skin cells. 3. Lastly, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day to the red areas. Make sure the skin is dry before application. -Just a dab will do and rub it in well. Neosporin is fine to use. 4. Keep the paw clean and dry *Always wear gloves to handle this lesion and wash your hands afterwards. I hope things get figured out quickly! Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth

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