Advice on dogs bleeding lump:(

Hello, looking for some advice on this lump. The first picture is when it happened , the second picture is current after a night of bleeding because it is on his elbow and he is constantly rubbing it. I’ve noticed this bump for some time, but never worried until one night i noticed lots of blood and something poking out. I’m not sure if that is just inflamed cells or tissue or what, but it really worries me. He wants to lick it , so I have him in an E-Collar, but he still rubs it when he sits and it starts to bleed. I’m not sure whether I should cover it or leave it open? I have put triple antibiotic but I’m not sure hot to help him. Any advice or opinions wanted.

Hello - i think that you're right to be concerned about this and truth be told, what with all the hair and inflammation and secondary lick damage, I am also finding it hard to tell how this started out.  The fact that you've put something called triple antibiotic on it suggests that you're not in the UK, as that would be illegal here without a vets' involvement.  It may also be of limited use because unless this is caused by very superficial (cream accessible) infection - which is rare on its own - I cant imagine that it will help.  Dogs lick at and self-traumatise lesions when there is underlying pain and I would also argue that stopping them from doing it eg with a collar, is a little like tying a childs hands behind their back to stop them from scratching headlice; yes it works, but the pain or itchiness or irritation would continue to annoy them (yes, I know that they also wouldn't be able to use their hands, but some collars do restrict dogs' movements too ).   So.... what would a vet do?

They may provide effective and safe combinations of pain releif to keep the area comfortable and thereby try to stop the patient biting at it.  If they could see directly what the underlying cause was, they might also treat that.  If not, they might have a good look at the lesion from all angles and either a) trial-treat, depending on what they think is causing it or b) carry out more tests.  They might well do a combination of these things at once.   Where about on the patient is the lump? - I am looking on a phone screen and may not have the full picture.

Sorry, I have read again and you did tell me that the lesion is on the elbow.   I think that in this case, it doesn't change my answer.  Please will you let me know where you are and how you get on with the vet?

@liz yes I am in USA. Is it possible that this is very irritated tissue, he was sleeping on the leather sofa overnight when the lump first began , and I kinda had the idea that the leather had rubbed his lump raw, he is not licking at it anymore and it doesn’t seem to bother him that bad, it’s just very nasty and worry-some to see on him. I’m trying to schedule a vet appointment, but my vet isn’t open for another week. And I’m trying to figure out if I could maybe ice it , and the swelling would relieve, or if there’s anything I can do.

Gosh!  To a uk vet it is very suprising that vets are allowed to close for a week without redirecting you elsewhere for veterinary care, so it may be that there has been another option deliberately left avaialable (I understand that things may also be very different where you are - and change across different States).  In the UK, human pharmacies are allowed to prescribe some treatments   It could be that e.g. underlying arthritis is causing pain or a hygroma and that the damage to the skin is secondary as a result of licking caused by pain; it could also be that the lump is the primary problem and the licking secondary to that.  If your vet is unable to see you for so long, they may well triage and reccommed appropriate interim care, because a lot of self-trauma can occur within a week.  It is certainly worth asking for this.  Otherwise, we would reccommend speaking to your emergency or pharmacy team.  It may be that they can give e..g appropraite pain releif if this may be an issue, or a shampoo targetting certain microbes for superficial / skin-level problems, or systemic meds to treat any deeper problems.   Hygroma, for instance, are more difficult lesions to treat. Frustratingly, it is beyond the scope of this website to prescribe or reccommend drugs and treatments.  I hope that you can get the level of care needed soon.