hi everybody it is me miss paranoid puppy owner again. When giving max his groom tonight found a scabby lump thing on back of his front leg near the elbow. It was definitley not there last night. He didnt really like it being touched. I cant see anything in it like a tic or a grass seed or anything. It is not pussy or weepy but is obviousley sore and can only get quick looks at it. He also has 2 spots on his tummy. They look like little teenage spots or chicken pox spots. They dont seem to bother him. Shall I keep an eye on them or take him to the vet tommorrow? He is perfectly happy and playing sleeping eating pooing and weeing all normally. Sorry I know I am a worrier but I dont want to rush up to the vet over every little thing as firstly vet will think I am a psycho and also bank balance will not handle it what with four kids at home for summer demanding constant entertainment and oldest son broke arm on tuesday so he is now left with no football swimming or cycling and is already driving me insane with 5 weeks left!!!!!!

I know how you feel I have 5 kids at home for the holidays and my 16 yr old brother! ARGHHHHHH!

I would see how it goes, you could buy some antiseptic cream from the pet shop, I have some - it stinks! Then go the vets if it turns nasty.

About a year ago in August/September when we'd just got our pup, I noticed a few spots on her belly, and the odd scab on her ear and leg, so I took her to the vets. They didn't think it was anything to worry about as there was only the odd one (being a new pup owner too, I took her straight to the vets with anything, more for my peace of mind than anything else!!) but did a skin scrapping just incase, and it turned out she had harvest mites as we took her for walks around the farms and lanes while they were harvesting. We caught it really early (in fact the vet said he'd never really seen it at that early stage before which is why he hadn't recognised it) and she only needed to be sprayed with flea/tick killer for a few days, and she's never had it since.

It might be worth phoning your vet and asking if you could use something like a flea/mite spray and giving it a try without having to pay the consultation charges, although if it does continue, it'll be best to pay the vets a visit just incase- it could be cheaper in the long run if you catch things early.

thank you that is very interesting. We had thought the spots may be flea bites although he has had frontline. I did ask some other doggy people I know for advice today and they said just keep it clean and try some antiseptic cream and see how it goes. People keep saying dont rush to the vet for everything. I may well pop to the vet now to make sure it isnt anything more sinister. It doesnt seem to bother him but I want to know it is nothing more sinister! Thanks again for advice.