Accepted Answer

Hi there XXXXXXXXXX,

Thank you for your question regarding your 5 year old Dalmation and the bleeding spot near his privates. This is an interesting case and in short, no it is not common for Dalmations to get dermal lesions like this. There are a number of things that could be going on here. If this is a raised, firm dermal mass, you should really be getting your Vet to take a biopsy of this lump to send to the pathologists in order to find out exactly what it is. If it is a bloody looking lump it could be anything from a Haemangioma (blood blister), histiocytoma and only VERY rarely something like a dermal haemangiosarcoma. A biopsy would tell you for sure what exactly this lump IS which will be of so much help to both the Veterinarian in order to know how to best deal with the lump and for you to give you some peace of mind. If this is a dermal (skin) mass, it is quite important to get an exact diagnosis as to what exactly it is - it could be a range of different lumps that can be either benign of malignant.

If on the other hand this is a flat bit of skin that has been ulcerated and has been bleeding on and off - and there doesn't appear to be a raised area under the skin, then there are other diagnostics that should be undertaken. Possibilities for a nonraised ulcerated area of skin include a pyoderma and/or folliculitis (skin infection), ringworm, trauma that is not healing or even skin parasites. A skin scrape would be userful to rule out skin parasites and if an infection was suspected your Vet should carry out a skin aerobic culture and sensitivity to find out the exact bug present in the wound in order to treat it appropriately. If this seems to be neither of these things, again a skin biopsy and histopathology would be very helpful to obtain an exact diagnosis. It will also be important to ensure that this lump is not related to his recent neutering surgery as the surgical site can oftentimes get infected and ulcerated if excessively licked (dogs tend to lick excessively if their sutures are placed too tightly)

You may want a second opinion at a different clinic if you haven't been having much luck with your Vet and this lesion. As I say, it could well be a large number of different problems ranging from skin parasites, to a dermal mass to even an allergic or endocrinological condition - and this is why making an exact diagnosis will be so important for your little boy. Don't panic about the scare mongering about cancer as from what you have told me, no one has actually diagnosed anything yet - in fact it sounds like an incorrect diagnosis was made to begin with!

Best of luck following this up with your Vet, a second opinion vet or even a Veterinary Dermatological Specialist.

Thank you and please now click ACCEPT.

Kind Regards,

Dr M D Edwards

Expert:	Dr M D Edwards
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Answered:	6/25/2008

Dog Veterinarian

Veterinarian - BVSc (DVM equivalent) - Webmaster & Head Veterinarian for www. onlinepetdr.com