Facial Spot

[BaileyRM]

Hi

I have a slight concern with a spot that has appeared on my Boxer dog, Bailey's, face. He is 10 months old and since we have had him he has always had a lump type spot (covered in hair) on both cheeks and one under his chin.

Recently however one of the ones on his cheek broke out into a spot and bled, this then scabbed over but continues to bleed from time to time. There is now a thick black scab sitting on top of it. I have a picture, however im not sure how well it shows what I am referring too.

The other two still remain as these hairy type lumps. None of them seem to bother him however.

I have an appointment with the vet's on Friday to take a look at this as it is a concern that it is yet to clear up and appears to be growing. I have read in a few posts about cleaning his face and bowl after each meal, could this be a solution? He eats dry food twice a day from a plastic bowl.

I'll try and upload the picture now.

Thanks guys.

Ricky.

 

[BaileyRM]

Here is a link to the pic I mentioned above. It's easy to see but quite difficult to make out the black scab that's sitting on top of it. I think the bleeding is happening when he scratches it and breaks the scab.

http://i42.tinypic.com/34oa8sp.jpg

 

[Cami]

I can't be 100% sure from a picture but it looks very much like what we refer to in my house as "beauty marks"....common in Boxers.
Here is a picture from my BW gallery of my girl Cami. She had three on one side of her face (seen in the picture).
Boxer Dog Photo Gallery & Postcard - Sunshine!

It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities that scratching something similar would cause it to bleed and then scab over. Try applying an antibiotic ointment on it for a few days. Put it on prior to a meal or going for a walk, etc...it needs about ten minutes of uninterrupted time to do its job so something that distracts him for a bit after you apply it would be great.

 

[CrazyCharlie]

Charlie has these "beauty marks" also, but he has never had one bleed before. Did it just start bleeding on its own or does it look like its been scratched at? Maybe there was a bug bite on it which caused your baby to scratch which then made it bleed?

 

[prittiegirl]

We call them "feeler moles", but beauty mark is better... I think they're weird and facilitate facial hair sprouting (like cats "feeler" whiskers)...

I haven't seen one break open though... :( Hope you can get it cleared up!

 

[BaileyRM]

Thanks for the info.

I was comfortable with the "beauty marks" when covered in hair, it's just when this one broke open and bled it got me a little worried. Cami, i'll try your suggestion of cleaning it up and see if that helps, thanks. The good thing is he isn't too fussed about it so it does get left alone.

CrazyCharlie. I believe he scratched is when it bled for the first time. I didn't see him do it but he does like a good scratch behind the ear and think he must of caught the side of his face when doing so.

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[BaileyRM]

Hi again.

Happy New Year to you all.

Bailey has been to the vet's about this spot and they've explained that it is nothing to worry about, just a hair follicle, but that we should consider having it removed as he will continue to scratch at it and make it bleed.

While we decide if we want them to chop it away they subscribed some cream to apply to it that takes away a bit of the itch. The spot is still quite red but hair is starting to grow back over it and, touch wood, he hasn't yet scratched at it again since.

Im hoping that it does cover over again and return to look like the others he has but im not sure it will as it is a lot bigger than any i've seen. If it does bleed again I think we will look to have it removed.

Thanks for your advice.

Ricky

 

[LILYLARUE]

I would do home remedy and forego the surgery. All 4 of my dogs have these follicles. I would think it was just by happenstance that your dog caught it with a toenail like you said. Any surgery that requires anaestesia is a potential of problems. So, if you take care of the wound, keep it clean and use antibiotic, he should be healed up in no time. IMO, the vet is a little too surgery happy to remove something that almost every dog has - and mostlikely, rare that it becomes an issue at all.

Also, toss the plastic bowl as it breeds bacteria and get a stainless one and wash after every meal. Not only will it help with his sore, it will help lessen any bacteria that can breed in his pores.