Round red patch like a Lump on pup's stomach

by Jenny
(Australia)

My 6 month old female staffy has a raised round red patch like a lump about 2 and a half centimeters in diameter, it's located on her lower chest more on the stomach.

It doesn't seem to bother her when I touch it but what is it?






Hi Jenny
That lump could be a lot of different things! It could be inflammation from an insect bite/sting or from a cut or injury of some sort.

If it looks red (either the lump itself or the surrounding area) or feels hot it could be infected. Generally in this situation it would hurt when touched, but Staffy's are one of those breeds who have a high tolerance for discomfort and pain, so she may not show it.

If the lump seems to be under the skin rather than on it, then perhaps it's a simple sebaceous cyst. These can 'pop up' very quickly, and often disappear the same way. They usually feel firm and smooth and tend to 'move around' a bit under the skin. But as the skin doesn't generally look red, chances are it's not that.

If the skin on this lump is red, rough, inflamed or irritated then it's possible it's due to an allergy or some sort (see my Dog Allergies page for more on this.

Or it could be the beginnings of a skin condition, perhaps one caused by skin mites such as Mange in dogs.

As you can see, there are a LOT of different possibilities and only a veterinarian can really make an accurate assessment and diagnosis. I strongly recommend getting your pup examined so that you can find out what's causing this lump.

Chances are it's nothing to worry about, but if there is infection, or it is being caused by allergies or mites, you need to get the right treatment started.

Hope this helps. Wish you luck and hope that your pup is doing much better soon.