Whats this on my dog?

Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 101 points – 5 months ago

Super weird, noticed it today on his right foreleg just above the elbow joint. Feels like there's something underneath, and had this chunky white protrusion. Can't find an exact match via Google. Expecting some sort of cyst or maybe a blocked gland?

My vet tech wife believes you're correct, a cyst or blocked gland and nothing to worry about. Keep an eye on it to be safe. Def not a tick.

Appreciate the comment, another commenter mentioned parasitic fly. And to me it looks exactly like the butt end of a botfly larvae, and the shape under the skin seems to match too. Does your wife have any experience with that or think this could potentially be the culprit? Gonna try smothering with something unbreathable as soon as I can either way.

armchair speculations: have you watched any videos of botflies? they are responsive to stimulation and will retreat inside when touched. if your puppers fleshy bit is inactive, i’d wager some kind of sebum growth.

Looked like either a rupturing cyst or maybe a skin tag. I wouldn't think it's anything serious but I will always recommend having a vet check it. Imo it's likely nothing but I'm also not a trained vet.

Actually could be the breathing asshole of a parasitic fly larvae. Put some petroleum jelly over it in a thick layer and see if whatever it is crawls out.

Holy shit, looks almost exactly like a botfly.... Going to try this for sure... Don't think I have any jelly. I'll see what I have on hand.

Gf seconding botfly. Looks like you caught it early. Smothering might work but she recommends vet because those suckers can get bulbous and cause an abscess.

Yeah kinda thinking the same (going to the vet), don't want to cause it to be worse. I just moved and haven't found a vet yet. I'll try and get him to one as soon as possible, thanks for the input!

3rding possible botfly. The wound looks a lot like the one my cat had.

Warning: gross botfly wound

If you do the petroleum jelly thing could you take video during the process?

I don't mean to be insensitive at all. I hope your pup is feeling okay and that you both enjoy your day.

Oooo thanks. Looking into that.

He is 10 years old. I'm sure cysts are gonna be pretty common at this point.

Go to a vet if you’re concerned. The internet is a bad place for medical advice.

I agree, just checking first to see if anyone else has seen this before.

I've had one on my dog. Very said it was a skin tag of sorts, and I removed it with one of those rubber band thingies. Dog showed no distress, didn't bother it, it fell off in a few days and healed normally.

Check and see what your vet says

I actually have some of those, but not sure if I can get one around this...

Have an appointment for this afternoon. Will update when I know!

Good news, just a benign growth. Vet isn't concerned. Said some fancy medical terms and said it's nothing to worry about in the short term, just keep an eye on it monthly to see if it's growing.

Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the update OP! Although part of me always welcomes a botfly extraction video, Im glad it's not that for your doggo.

I’m in the “cyst” camp. We had a Sheltie who got kinda gross little sebum-filled protrusions a little like that.

Go to the vet. If its just aging skin, you need to know so you can manage and maybe get some proper ointment, and if it’s something weird like a botfly, that shit needs to be removed ASAP.

How are things at Camp Cyst? Filling up your days with explosive activities and full-filling events?

My old dog has lumps but none like that. I’d go to the vet.

Do the petroleum jelly thing if you must, but unless they're a common thing in your area, it's unlikely. Can you pull at it with tweezers without your dog getting upset?

I've pulled in it a bit before posting, he doesn't like it, but let me do it.

Here's two more photos