Black Mole or Wart on Dog's Leg

by Suzanne
(Ozark, MO, USA)

My dog developed a small wart or mole about 2 months ago. Since then it has grown to the size of my index fingernail. It is black, dull and a little bumpy and not hard or soft. It is on top of her skin.

She is a 10yr. old female shar-pei husky mix.

I am going to take her to the vet but can not right now. Is it an emergency?

Comments for
Black Mole or Wart on Dog's Leg

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My Online Vet Response for Black Mole or Wart on Dog's Leg
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Suzanne,
From the photo you submitted, it certainly looks like a benign wart on the back of your dog's leg. But a typical wart would not grow that quickly, and usually benign warts do not have a 'black' pigment. Usually, they are pink or skin colored.

I would suggest finding a holistic veterinarian to check out your 'whole' dog. See our page on what a holistic vet does, compared to a conventional veterinarian.

Other factors that may have triggered this growth are recent vaccinations or any change in dog food, for example exposure to toxins, preservatives, additives, etc. Check our page on good dog food diets.

Lastly, this may not be an emergency, but I would monitor this wart/growth over the next 2 weeks. If you can document how much it grows over the next 2 weeks, you should definitely make an appointment with a veterinarian, preferably a holistic vet!

To find a holistic veterinarian in your area click here:
find a holistic veterinarian in your area

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the 'click here to add your own comments' link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

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DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
- Dog Warts,
- Dog Skin Conditions,
- Ask a Vet Online Library - Dog Warts, Cysts and Strange Growths Section

I did change dog food
by: Anonymous

I have changed her dog food twice. I also have a pug-chow that is allergic to fleas and something in dog food maybe corn. So I needed to get a dog food with less corn in it.

Same condition
by: Anonymous

Hello my 10 yr old mix welsh corgi had the same lump, black same size and description on her flank. About 2 months after it formed, I noticed it was gone. A red raised circle with a tiny black center remains. It's like a target board and the center circle is black. I think the raised area is from licking. Can't afford a vet but what I found online points to being benign. If you can add anything it would be appreciated.

What happened
by: Jess

Hi, my Boston Terrier thas the exact same thing on her ear. what ever happened? I have an appointment today for the vet. I'm just worried they will tell me its cancer so im trying to prepare myself. did u ever find out what it was?

Can't afford vet
by: Anonymous

Sometimes life changes AFTER you have a pet for years. My dog has a mole on her face - that is why I went to this site. I lost my career and then discovered I had breast cancer. I fought the cancer and have "won" so far, but it took what little money I had left - I love my dog dearly, but cannot afford a vet as I once was able to. Yes, rich or poor, people should be able to have a pet!

What an elitist attitude!!!
by: Anonymous

I agree, that if you don't have the money to take care of a dog properly and get it vaccinations and (in my part of the country) heart worm prevention and whatnot, you shouldn't get a dog.

That said, dogs live longer than 30 days! I have a rescue dog (he was about 4 weeks old). I wanted him to keep unwanted visitors away.

I had supported myself for 4 years in another country, and continued to support myself here for about a year and a half. There was no reason when I adopted him or when he was young to think there would be any reason I couldn't afford to take good care of him.

He has developed food allergies as well as environmental allergies. I did multiple food trials including a prescription dog food that cost about $90 for a 24 lb bag. He continued to lick and bite at his itchy skin so much that he gave himself multiple skin infections. (Licking nearly incessantly compromises the skin and then bacteria that is there naturally causes an infection.) When that would happen, it would require a vet visit, an antibiotic, and prednisone to get the allergies under control. His infections got so frequent that he was on prednisone nearly constantly. His vet told me that being on prednisone constantly would effect his organs and shorten his lifespan. So, I took him to have skin tests done. He tested allergic to dust and two kinds of dust mites.

He is now on a premium food that is about $2.50 per pound. His regular (daily) meds include Benedryl, Pepcid AC, levothyroxine (he developed low thyroid somewhere along the line) and glucosamine chondroitin. (All twice a day except the benedryl is 3 times a day for a few days after his allergy shot.) I give him an allergy shot every three weeks. Sometimes that flares up his itchiness so I will give him a small amount of prednisone - mostly for his comfort. I also toss a Beano (vet approved) into his food bowl each time he eats. It has really cut down on the terrible stink he used to create.

His stomach got much worse while I was out of town and he was staying with my dad. The vet put him on probiotic pills. They helped a lot, but when they were gone, his stomach got worse. I got an OK from my vet to try a spoonful of yogurt on his food each meal, and that seems to be keeping things under control (for a much lower price.)

But my vet (who is great) does all sorts of price checking for me and makes recommendations about how I can save money. I happen to have an aunt and uncle who are both vets, but unfortunately they live on the East Coast (I live in the midwest), but I often call my uncle for advice on whether I need to take my dog in or not.

.... While you're at it, why don't you take kids away from their parents if the parents hit a rough patch financially too. Who would be irresponsible enough to have kids they can't support? (Okay, I acknowledge kids are different than dogs, but the premise of situations changing all the time is the same.)

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