Question from Keagan Palardy:
Does any one know what this is on my poor doggies paw?:(
Answer from Shanika Winters:
Thank you for sending the photo of your dog’s paw along with your question as to what it might be. I will discuss some of the possibilities for what a lesion (growth/diseased area) similar to the one on your dog’s paw could be, how we would try and make a diagnosis and then treatment options.
What is this on my dog’s paw?
The first thing we need to do is find out more details about your dog, your vet will ask you a lot of questions to from what we call a history, this includes information about your dog’s:
- Age Breed Sex Eating Drinking Toiletting General Health
- How long the lesion has been present . Has the lesion grown/how quickly
- Does it cause any irritation to your dog/is he chewing at it
- Has your dog had anything like this before?
Your vet will then come up with a list of possible diagnoses for the lesion which in the case of your dog’s paw would probably include:
- Histiocytoma
- Mast cell tumour
- Other growths/tumours
How do we find out what it is?
In combination with the history your vet will put together and examining your dog’s paw, your vet may suggest taking samples from or removing the entire lesion itself and then analysing the tissues as a laboratory. The results of the analysis will hopefully tell your vet exactly what the lesion is and how it can be treated along with the likelihood of recurrence.
Histiocytoma
Is probably top of the list of things that the photo of your dog’s paw look like, they are a benign ( non cancerous) type of growth that are usually found in young dogs, they rarely cause any pain and can sometimes go away after a few months by themselves. If however your dog is bothered by the growth, or diagnosis cannot be made without full removal of the growth then surgery may be the best option.
Mast Cell Tumours
Are another type of growth which can look similar to the photo of your dog’s paw, but can also have many other appearances. These are generally a more aggressive type of cancerous growth, there are several different types of them and the chances of successfully treating them varies which each type. Mast cell tumours are more likely in older dogs and can change in size/shape due to release of a chemical called histamine.
Other growths/tumours
There is a very long list of other types of skin lesions such as ulcers, burns and other tumours that can cause lesions on the paws and close examination with/without sampling may be the only way to determine what the growth on our dog’s paw is.
What should I do next?
Make an appointment to see your vet, give them as much information as you can about your dog’s paw. Your vet will then suggest a plan of action, in some cases this will be to recheck after a set length of time or it may be to book your dog in for sampling/surgical removal of the lesion followed by laboratory analysis.
Once the results are back in then both you and your vet will have a much clearer idea of what the lesion is, how to treat it ( if further treatment is needed) and the chances of the lesion coming back.
I hope that my answer has helped you to understand some of the possibilities for what might be happening with your dog’s paw. With the help of your vet I hope that your dog is soon on the road to recovery.
Shanika Winters MRCVS ( online vet)
If you have any worries about your pet, please make an appointment with your vet, or try our Symptom Guide.
Discussion
My dog has something very similar on his pad. It sort of looks off colored. His pads are black and this is the same color. He will not stop licking it. We can’t get close to his paws bc he is very reactive and protective of them (he’s always been this way) any idea what it could be if he’s constantly licking the area? Thank you for any help you can give me. Of course we will take him in to the vet, but in the mean time I’m trying to figure out what we can do until then.
My immediate thought is either some sort of tumour, as mentioned in the article; or a foreign body (like a thorn) in there; or a simple erosion: some dogs pads wear away, especially after an injury and in wet weather, exposing the underlying living tissue. The treatment will of course depend on the cause, and in some cases might seem counter-intuitive – for example, corns in sighthounds are usually best treated by cutting one of the small tendons to alter the bearing of the foot and relieving the pressure sore. But it will of course depend what the vet finds on examination and, if appropriate, further tests.
Thank you so much for your response. He’s still licking it. I did get a picture, but we’ve made him an appointment at the vet for next week so I guess there’s no need to ask you to look at it. I agree, I think it’s very likely to be a foreign body, or possibly a tumor. I’m very scared and praying it’s benign, whichever it turns up to be. Thanks again Dr! I appreciate the feedback!
Good luck with him! Hope it all works out!
My dog also has a pink lump/bump near her pup pad I noticed it last night while she was laying on the couch. She is only a year old and a French bulldog . Is this serious?
There’s no way to know! It could be a spot, or contact dermatitis, or an allergy, or a foreign object embedded in the foot, or an insect bite, or a tumour. It really needs checking out by your vet to make sure it isn’t anything nasty.
My dog has a red spot on his front leg looks sore
There are lots of possible causes, but one of the more common is a “Hot spot” or “lick granuloma” – and that isn’t usually serious but does need veterinary attention to get it under control.
My dog has a circle of red with white in the middle, on her hip. She’s less than a year old. She’s a pittie. What could it be
There are lots of possible causes, but major options include a tick- or other insect-borne infection, or a pressure sore. I’d definitely advice veterinary attention at this point!
My little Shitzu who I love so much has a large ball on her Paw.
What sort of ball? Did it appear suddenly, or gradually? Is it sore or raw to look at, or like normal skin?
But what was the outcome?
Ty – taking dog to Vet 10am tomorrow… he’s not 3 years old yet. Catahoula/Healer – male – Astro is name
What did the vet say
My dog have also the same problem bleeding all of the 4 legs
I think if all 4 legs are affected your dog is going to need a check up with a vet. It might be due to burns on the pads, or a reaction to some caustic or toxic substance, but because all the legs are affected, it will be very hard for your dog to get around without worsening the damage.
My dog has the exact same thing!!! I just noticed it when he wouldn’t stop biting it. It’s on the upper soft ball on the left front paw. This is really the exact same thing. I’ll take him in ASAP but would like to see if I can find any info in the mean time.
Hi my dog has two lumbs on his feet inbetween his paws by his nails he keeps licking one that is smaller than the other not to sure what they are im getting him booked in to my vets for a check up see what thay think
She has reduced bumps up her legs and feet and staring on outside of her mouth her paws are really reduced about to bleed she licks them all the time
My dogs paws have started to bleed. He had this growth but it seemed harmless n even he was not bothered by it. But now I’m worried as it is bleeding. I have bandaged it by betadine. What should I do?
Hello, because it is bleeding, it has a route for infection, so we strongly urge you to speak to your vet.
My dogs get these from time to time. They go away. Our vet informed us that putting cortisone cream on it can help speed the process a little.
My dogs get these from time to time. They go away. Our vet informed us that putting cortisone cream on it can help speed the process a little.