Dog question- something under the skin?

[Wcross]

My dog Moe has a little object under his skin on his side near his belly. It moves freely under the skin and feels hard. It is about the size of a BB and it doesn't seem to be causing him any pain. I don't think it is from a BB gun shot because I don't have any neighbors and I would have noticed the wound. Any ideas?

Oh, here is the obligatory photo of the animal in question;


"Moe"

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Has he had any shots lately? My puppy had a pea sized

hard knot recently after getting her rabies shot.

[Connonym]

2. probably a lipoma

does he have them elsewhere on his body? If it's a lipoma that's nothing serious but I'd take him in and have the vet look at it because if it is something more serious it's best to remove it while it's small. Give Moe a hug for me, he's a cutie.

[femmocrat]

3. Yes, have it checked by a veterinarian.

It could be anything, even a cyst. Moe looks like a wonderful friend and he deserves the best of care.

[skygazer]

4. It could be a small tumor

How much play is in it? If it's just a little flexible, it might be. Is there any discoloration there?

My Boxers both got a couple of small, benign tumors that moved a bit and felt like a hard round object under the skin. They never caused any pain but I did eventually have them removed.

I'd have a vet look at it to be on the safe side. Moe is beautiful, by the way. :loveya:

[flvegan]

5. Lipoma? I'd see a vet to be sure. Link for short article

here:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/lumps.html

Good looking dog!

[Raven]

6. It couldn't be a tick could it? I know they usually stay on the skin

but maybe it made a burrow. I agree, a vet visit is in your future. Wonderful looking dog!

[Wcross]

7. That's how I found it, pulling a tick off.

I got the entire tick (head and all) off but noticed the bump right where the tick was.

[grasswire]

8. the bump is right where the tick was?

Is it blood?

[Wcross]

9. I don't know what it is.

My guys (six of them) get a LOT of ticks and tick bites. I haven't run across anything like this before. (Ah, the joys of having farm dogs).

[dropkickpa]

10. Have you tried using

a collar that contains amitraz? It will repell ticks and prevent them from attatching.

[Wcross]

11. Not yet but I will try based on your suggestion! Thanks. n/t

[philosophie_en_rose]

13. Is it the tick's head?

Kind of gross, but possible. A vet should probably look at it to make sure. Whatever it is doesn't sound very healthy.

[flvegan]

12. Here:

From Drs. Fosters and Smith:
"Once an embedded tick is manually removed, it is not uncommon for a welt and skin reaction to occur. A little hydrocortisone spray will help alleviate the irritation, but it may take a week or more for healing to take place. In some cases, the tick bite may permanently scar leaving a hairless area. This skin irritation is due to the irritating and destructive tick saliva. It is not due to the tick losing its head, literally. Do not be worried about the tick head staying in; it rarely happens. The swelling is due to toxic saliva, not toxic heads."

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=62

If your pups tend to get ticks, you might want to treat them with Frontline or K9 Advantix. It's a once per month, topical medication (no script needed).