Hello,

I have a 1 yr. old female and within the past several weeks she has
developed a small button-sized lump near the pointed tip of each ear. If you
shine a flashlight through the back of the ear you can see that these lumps
are positioned near major blood flow (veins, vessels whatever the term). I
am suspicious that ticks or something of that sort have found homes there.

Is this a common problem? What to do? We pulled one of the scabs off, but
it came back. The dog seems not to feel anything that irritates her - we
don't see her scratching there. She does do regular grooming and very
gingerly scratches the more fleshy areas of her ear with her back paws, but
these scabs are on the tips, and we never see her touching them.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Be

Skin problems like this can often occur in Westies. i would probably suggest you use a treatment called Stronghold which would help most common skin problems but if may be better if your vet was to take a scrapping and see if thy can see any mite or such like udner a microscope to see what is causing the problem and treat correctly.
Lyndsey