Why does my dog have tiny bumps on his head? Here’s What to Do Next

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What is that strange bump on your dog? Discovering a skin lump or bump on your dog can set your mind reeling and heart racing, but there’s no need to panic. A bump on your dog doesn’t automatically mean cancer. While skin bumps and strange lumps on dogs should always be taken seriously, certain types of bumps are more common than you might think, and they’re often harmless.

Types of Skin Lumps and Bumps on Dogs

Skin bumps that you’re likely to find on your dog fall into several categories. Some of these are more common in older dogs. As a new puppy owner, you’ll want to file these away and keep an eye out for them as your pup ages. While some of these are non-cancerous, some can be caused by infections or other underlying conditions. It’s always best to have a veterinarian examine and diagnose any changes to your dog’s skin and determine a course of treatment, if needed.

Lipomas: these fatty tumors appear as soft, round lumps of flesh beneath the skin. They’re made up entirely of fat cells and are always benign, or non-cancerous. They’re usually found in older dogs and dogs who are overweight. Larger breeds are more prone to them, although they can be found in small breeds as well. Your vet may perform a fine needle aspirate, using a thin needle to collect cells and examine them under a microscope to verify that they’re fatty tissue.

Sebaceous cysts: these are smaller bumps that can look like a pimple or a wart. They form from blocked oil glands and may burst and release a pasty white goo. These most commonly occur in breeds with fine hair, like the Poodle and the Bichon Frise. They may disappear on their own, although some can remain for years and have the potential to become infected. Surgical removal is an option if they irritate your dog.

Warts: these small, cauliflower-like bumps are caused by the papillomavirus. They occur most often in puppies who don’t yet have fully-developed immune systems and usually disappear on their own. Although the virus is contagious between dogs, it can’t be transmitted from dogs to humans.

Skin tags: these are fibrous bumps that look like small flaps or raised stalks of skin, although they may occasionally look like small bumps. They may or may not have hair growing on them. Skin tags are caused by overactive cells called fibroblasts and can occur in dogs of any breed or any age. They’re often harmless, although your vet might want to do a biopsy to make sure, especially if the tag changes in shape, color or size.

Abscesses: usually caused by an infection, abscesses are swollen tissue that can form around bug bites, animal bites, infected glands, and other types of sores. If not treated early they may burst, which is painful for your pup. Antibiotics may be required to treat the infection.

Button tumors: also known as a histiocytoma, these are benign tumors that affect puppies and young dogs between eight weeks and three years of age. They’re caused by an overproduction of immune cells and typically disappear on their own.

Mast cell tumors: these are cancerous tumors that may occur either beneath or on top of the skin. They’re often solid to the touch and irregular in shape. The appearance of such a tumor should receive immediate attention from a veterinarian. They’ll likely want to remove the tumor, if possible, before performing a biopsy to determine if cancer might have spread through your dog’s body. If surgical removal isn’t possible, you may be referred to a veterinary oncologist for chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

A red and white mixed breed dog lying in the grass and receiving a belly rub

Diagnosing a Lump on My Dog

“What should I do if I find a lump on my dog?” Its a common question pet parents ask. The best thing you can do if you discover a bump on your dog is to schedule an appointment with the vet. While Dr. Google provides a wealth of pet health information, its easy to go down a rabbit hole of misinformation and panic. Instead, go straight to the expert. Even if your dog is due for an exam in a few months, dont wait. Even noncancerous masses can worsen and get infected if you wait too long to bring your dog in for treatment.

Your vet will need to take some tests to accurately diagnose your dogs lump. They may recommend a fine needle aspirate and cytology — one of the least invasive procedures to evaluate a lump or bump, during which a vet uses a small needle to collect cells. The cells are placed on glass slides and stained for microscopic review. Depending on the type of mass, the vet may be able to diagnose it quickly. Or, your vet may send out the slides to a laboratory to have them reviewed by a specialist.

While a fine needle aspirate is usually helpful, in some cases, with particular types of masses, your vet may need to take a larger biopsy and excise tissue with a scalpel or punch blade. This is a more invasive procedure than a fine needle aspirate and might require sedation or anesthesia. However, biopsies are usually performed at a vets office and your dog should be able to return home the same day.

Dr. Danielle Spencer explains what bumps and lumps on your dog could mean

Warts are more common in puppies, older dogs and dogs that are immunocompromised, and look like small skin tags or several small lumps. They’re usually found on the head and face and are caused by a papillomavirus. Dogs that go to a doggy daycare or dog parks can get warts due to close social contact with other dogs.