Large mass - help.

Hi. I bathed my dog tonight and found this on his paw. Can anyone please help?

Hello - when you find a lump, it is likely to fall into one of two main groups: inflammatory or cancerous.  Inflammatory lumps are more likely to hurt and inspire licking, but there is plenty crossover.  Inflammatory lumps can form because of foreign bodies (classically grass seeds or pine needles) sunk into the tissues between the toes. The body then mounts and inflammatory reaction around them.  They can also occur due to allergy, or due to arthritis or some other source of pain that causes licking, such as a wound or a rat-bite.  They can be caused by parasites, for example by Demodex.  By injury. On the other had, cancerous lumps can occur in any dog at any age and take on any appearance. These can be accompanied by any level of pain but most frequently, do not hurt.  If your vet is worried that the lump may fall into this group, they might propose a biopsy.   I don't know whether you have had chance to see your vet yet, but if that is being licked then it may be a good idea sooner rather than later.  Your vet might prescribe some kind of lick-prevention (e.g. a collar) with some kind of pain releif (these have to be vet prescribed only because so many human pain meds are toxic / poisenous to dogs, besides which it is illegal for owners to prescribe even human Over The Counter meds in the UK).   I hope that something there is useful.

The lump does look very sore, so wishing your small boy all the best - please will you let us know how he gets on?