Blood blisters resemble friction blisters in that they contain blood instead of clear fluid, and usually heal without needing medical intervention.
If a blood blister is painful, over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help. Most importantly, however, is to prevent its expansion and spread.
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Causes
Blood blisters (known as hematomas) are fairly prevalent among dogs and can appear anywhere on their bodies where an excess pressure was applied to their skin, such as when your dog bites their own tongue, scratches excessively or gets pinched; or steps on something sharp such as thorns or poisonous plants. Common spots for blood blisters to form include their paws, bellies and between their toes but they could also form around ears noses and mouths.
Hematomas can be extremely uncomfortable for your pup if they become large enough to cause pain, and are typically difficult to remove on their own. You can make the situation more comfortable by draining the hematoma with a sterilized needle or having your vet do so while your pup is under anesthesia; your veterinarian will drain any blood clots formed before suturing over the area to ensure blood doesn’t reenter the blister.
Hematomas may not be life-threatening conditions for dogs, but they still warrant immediate medical care if you suspect your pup may have one. If this occurs, take him/her immediately to a veterinarian to seek professional advice as soon as possible.
Your veterinarian will work to address the causes of your dog’s hematoma in order to prevent its recurrence, such as topical ointments or antibiotics if needed or even surgical intervention if required.
Other skin abnormalities that resemble blood blisters include tumors, small cysts and skin infections. If you suspect your dog might have one of these conditions, seek medical assistance immediately so as to give the best chance for treatment and prevention.
One effective way to keep your dog from developing blood blisters is keeping them well hydrated, especially if they plan on engaging in strenuous activity like running or swimming. You should also trim their nails regularly and file down the edges to reduce scratching as well as apply barrier cream or lotion before they head out on an adventure.
Symptoms
Blood blisters are fluid-filled pockets that form beneath the surface of skin and often appear red and swollen – similar to pustules but without pus. They may appear anywhere that excessive pressure was applied such as on your dog’s paw pads, bellies, legs, ears or between their toes; or near wounds or sources of irritation such as thorns, poisonous plants or sharp objects. Blood blisters may sometimes be mistaken for cysts or tumors because their symptoms appear similar.
When your pup has what looks like a blood blister, it can cause pain when touched and may also present with other symptoms like swelling, bruising, or an increase in temperature. If the blister doesn’t cause discomfort and your pup can stop scratching or chewing at it without difficulty, leave it be and it will reabsorb over time.
However, if it’s an uncomfortable spot or your pup can’t stop worrying about it (scratching or chewing), it may be beneficial to visit a vet for treatment. They will drain and suture the area so it doesn’t reopen; in some cases anti-inflammatory medication may also be provided as relief.
Whenever your dog spits up blood or vomits, this should be treated immediately as it could indicate shock and be life-threatening. Seek medical assistance immediately so they can determine the source of shock and come up with a treatment plan to address it.
Blood blisters in dogs can be easily prevented. Regular inspection of their paw pads should reveal any debris or thorns that might be irritating their pads and remove these as soon as possible. Avoid walking on rough or uneven surfaces as well as clothing/shoe rubs which could aggravate them further. It’s wise to consult your veterinarian regarding allergies as they can provide medications to keep his skin healthy.
Treatment
Certain skin abnormalities that resemble blood blisters may be harmless and resolve themselves without medical intervention, while others require immediate veterinary assistance for diagnosis and treatment. When your pup develops any lump or bump with red-tinged blood-filled lumps or bumps that appear red with blood in it, he should visit his veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
Some conditions that appear as blood blisters on dogs may actually be an accumulation of fluid, which will eventually dry up on its own in 30 to 48 hours. Over time, discolorations will fade as skin cells regenerate and shed off, revealing undamaged tissue beneath.
Other conditions that resemble blood blisters can include skin tumors, cysts and infections – making them hard to distinguish from real blood blisters at first glance. Therefore, it’s crucial that your pup be evaluated by a vet as soon as possible to ensure his/her wellbeing.
Example: A mouth sore that appears similar to a blood blister could be a histiocytoma, a benign tumor which typically develops in young dogs under three years old and typically presents as a pink raised lesion with pigmentation and color. These lesions tend to be painful but typically resolve on their own without further intervention from veterinarians and do not recur in subsequent months or years.
In some instances, dark reddish-black solitary growths on legs or trunks could be Hemangiomas; noncancerous tumors that closely resemble blood vessels. Hemangiomas are generally firm and solitary growths that may ulcerate or expand with time – in such instances it is advised that surgical removal be undertaken to ensure full healing.
Hematomas, or an accumulation of blood in tissues, can be extremely uncomfortable for dogs and can resemble large blisters. Ear hematomas are especially prevalent, often the result of self-inflicted injuries from biting at ears when startled or scratched – often from self-mutilation caused by biting too aggressively when upset or scratched.
Other kinds of hematomas include those caused by reactions to medication, poisonous plants, thorns or sharp objects as well as external trauma, which may take longer to heal due to being more painful; if left unattended they could even lead to internal organ damage and infection if left unchecked.
Prevention
Preventive steps exist that will lower your dog’s risk of blood blisters in their paw pads. One key action you can take to do so are keeping their pads clean, and applying lotion when they appear dry or flaky; this can help stop friction between rough surfaces that might lead to friction blisters, while protecting from sharp edges of thorns or other external irritants that might aggravate existing wounds.
As part of their regular grooming regimen, it’s also advisable to regularly inspect their paws for debris and irritations, particularly if your pup tends to chew or lick at their paw pads excessively. An Elizabethan collar or deterrent spray may be useful here if this behavior persists – consider investing in one if necessary!
An additional preventive measure would be using a foot pad treatment or balm on your dog’s paw pads before heading out for walks or exercise sessions, in order to protect them from coming into contact with thorns and other irritating elements, and prevent dry out, irritation and itchy pads.
Blisters that appear suddenly could be an indicator of an underlying medical condition in your pet. If a blister appears for no obvious reason on your pup’s skin, don’t wait – contact a veterinarian as soon as possible to be assessed by one.
As well as knowing when not to lance certain types of blisters, it’s also essential that you recognize when not to lance them. For instance, any cyst with fluid-filled pockets below the skin that doesn’t look like blood blisters but instead appear like sebaceous cysts should not be left alone because if rupture occurs it could result in significant discharge and bleeding requiring immediate medical treatment from your veterinarian.