I just discovered a hard nodule on Rippley's muzzle - ??

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

At first I thought, oh no this is a tick! It is small - tick sized (maybe 1/4 inch round?) but it is flesh colored. And hard. Not squishy, not pus filled looking, and no head on it. I'm pretty sure it is new... By the way, everything else seems fine. He is not rubbing it or bothered in any way. It is terrible allergy season here though with loads of pollen falling, if that matters. The cars are yellow with it. It is really hard to see the lump in this pic, but I'm attaching it if I can figure out how... Any info/help appreciated, TIA

May 10 UPDATE: the flesh colored nodule actually has a darker spot in the center that looks like a scab. The dot that may be a scab has gotten bigger, and the nodule feels smaller than it initially felt (less bulbous or less protruding). Is it possible that it oozed and reduced from this spot? If so, should I be concerned? I will post another pic...

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Skin tab maybe? My last dog was covered in them, all harmless.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That does not look like a tick. I would just watch it and see what happens.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It sounds like it may be a mole of some kind. You might have the vet take a look at it. I doubt very much that it has anything to do with the pollen. 

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Thank you all so much. I'll make sure it's not getting any bigger and hopefully it can wait til our checkup in a couple weeks.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unless it starts bleeding or oozing, I think it can wait. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Finn had one about that size on his spine and it turned out to be a harmless cyst.

[Trudy Harlow]

Paddy has had several of these, all harmless cysts. I agree with everyone: not related to the pollen, not overtly of concern. Just get the vet to check it next time you have him in unless it does something different or alarming in the meantime. Tell your groomer so s/he won't accidentally shave the top off or otherwise irritate it.

[Rae]

Rozee has 17 of these. We get them checked by the vet every six months to see if they are getting bigger...I actually check them daily just because she's my baby! He says to just leave them alone...no picking, squeezing, etc. Some of them she's had for 6-7 years. She's now 9 1/2. It's good to have the vet check them and record where they are on the body and the size so you have a record and can really tell how many and if they are getting bigger.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Wow, 17! I completely understand, I'd be trying to keep track too, lol! It is a relief to hear all these stories for me. I think actually Rip's is reduced (not protruding as much) but it also doesn't look like it oozed or anything. Weird. Smaller has to be better though, right?

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Here is a fun, new pic I managed to get (why wasn't I born with three hands?) of Rip's nodule. It seems to have a pinker dot in the center of the round lump. Perhaps I'm a bit obsessed and should stop, but who better to hear this than my DK buds? ;)

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Hi all, I posted an update above. I've a feeling it's a benign sebaceous cyst - it doesn't look inflamed or infected, thank goodness. What do you think? Perhaps I should add omegas to his diet?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

He's getting a good Omega 3 content in his diet. It doesn't usually hurt to add some Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of DHA and EPA (fish oil supplements), but it's doubtful that it would have prevented this lump, or that it would get rid of it.