Anyone know what this is?

[cyber-sibes]

Has anyone ever seen something like this on your dogs paws? I'm worried about my sweet girl.
Star has a small growth protruding out from a pad. It's been there for 3 years, and 2 vets have said they don't know what it is. It's stayed the same until recently - it's gotten quite a bit bigger in the last month. It doesn't seem to bother her, but I saw her limping yesterday, and a big ball of ice was stuck to the bottom of her foot. I got it off, and 20 minutes later she had another ball of ice. When I pulled that one off, I noticed how big this lump has gotten, and the tip is now red. She goes in for dental surgery in two weeks, and I'm hoping the vet can maybe remove it. He's a little leary because of its location, thinks it's in a tough spot to heal.
I did a drawing because it's hard to photograph -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/cyber-sibes/Health/star-paw.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/cyber-sibes/Health/star-paw-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/cyber-sibes/Health/star-paw-3.jpg

[DrKym]

Goofy (the cocker) has something similar to that on her back paw.
Doesn't seem to bug her either, except if the groomer nicks it cleaning the hair.

Our vet said the same thing, he says it is a fatty growth and to keep an eye on it. It seems to swell in the summer a bit and shrink during the colder months.
Ashamed to admit it but I forget to check it more often than not. :o

[Ginger's Mom]

Yes, Ginger had something similar on her paw in November 2005. The vet seemed to believe that it was a fatty or unusual growth that had somehow gotten a cut and that is what gave her a problem. The doctor did not think that the growth was cancerous or anything like that, but just said that it was in an unusal place on her paw, and that I should just keep an eye on it for scrapes, swelling, etc. I must admit, since it has healed I have never given it another thought. :o Hope it is nothing serious for Star, too.

[Husky_mom]

I thought of an abcess (SP?)....... I too wonder about healing cause of frictin and all unless you can keep her sleeping till it heals......( good luck with a husky huh?)

hopefully it´s nothing serious and maybe he can remove it, there are these things like bandaids but more like nail polish (I´ve seen my parents use it when their fingers get cracked due to the bowling ball, not sure if there is something like that for dogs, but I´m almost sure there is) it´s like second skin that is waterproof and protects and helps inthe healing......

keep us posted on Star will ya.........good husky vibes on the way!!!

[dragondawg]

Has anyone ever seen something like this on your dogs paws? I'm worried about my sweet girl.
Star has a small growth protruding out from a pad. It's been there for 3 years, and 2 vets have said they don't know what it is. It's stayed the same until recently - it's gotten quite a bit bigger in the last month. It doesn't seem to bother her, but I saw her limping yesterday, and a big ball of ice was stuck to the bottom of her foot. I got it off, and 20 minutes later she had another ball of ice. When I pulled that one off, I noticed how big this lump has gotten, and the tip is now red. She goes in for dental surgery in two weeks, and I'm hoping the vet can maybe remove it. He's a little leary because of its location, thinks it's in a tough spot to heal.
I did a drawing because it's hard to photograph -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/cyber-sibes/Health/star-paw.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/cyber-sibes/Health/star-paw-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/cyber-sibes/Health/star-paw-3.jpg


In general any time a growth suddenly increases in size, a biopsy sample should be sent off to a pathology lab for examination. That includes previously diagnosed lypomas. Most likely you are dealing with a cyst that's infected. Possibly antibiotics and an anti-inflamatory/antibiotic salve such as Panalog might be sufficient.

[cyber-sibes]

Thanks everyone, sounds like it's not terribly serious. I talked to the vet a couple months ago about doing a biopsy when he takes out her cracked teeth, but I think I'll call him tomorrow & let him know it's changed. He may want to put her on antibiotics for a couple weeks before surgery. She's been licking it a lot today, but it doesn't seem to bother her when she walks.

[lizbud]

Pat, does your Vet use a laser in surgery? They might be able to zap
off the growth. It would be very minor surgery.

[cyber-sibes]

Pat, does your Vet use a laser in surgery? They might be able to zap off the growth. It would be very minor surgery.Good question, I'll ask. I sort of doubt it because it's not a high-tech clinic. If not, maybe I can contact the Ohio State vet clinic if they could do it. (I left the "fancy" :rolleyes: clinic because the vets & staff there left much to be desired)

[mike001]

Might just be a fatty tumor that got irritated. Just keep your eye on it for changes or bleeding. Might want to clip the hair around it to give it more air and a chance to dry up. If it isn't serious your vet can just cauterize it.

[Canis-Lupess]

Our Mist developed something similar on her hind paw when she was 12 years old. I noticed her favouring the back leg when she walked across lumpy ground etc... and then noticed that one of her pads seemed to have grown an axtra part similar to whats in your pictures but larger and it also looked sore like the one in your photos.

The vet said he reckoned it was caused by an old injury or something and that it had developed into a sort of growth. Antibiotics didn't sort it so she had it removed. It was awkward with the after care and keeping it dry because it was the middle of winter and always wet outside and keeping it dry was a pain. It did heal up ok though and she was an elderly dog.

I told the vet I recalled Mist getting stung on one of her back feet the previous summer when she trod on a bumble bee that was on the ground. She obviously felt it a bit at first but then she seemed ok after a few seconds and I couldn't find anything up when I looked. Whether that caused it, nobody knows for sure. but she never had a problem once it had been taken off. It wasn't that expensive to have done and it was worth it, even at her age.

I'd say get it taken off when she goes for her dental surgery.

[cyber-sibes]

Thanks, I've been a little conceerned because it changed, and she turned 10 in Jan. I'm keeping an eye on it, she's been licking it, but it doesn't seem to be getting any bigger or more sore looking. I think maybe when I pulled the ice balls off her paw, it may have taken a little skin with it. Since it's not getting any worse, I decided to wait till Monday & see how it is then. If it stays the same, I'll still call the vet, I really hope he'll remove it when she goes in.

[lv4dogs]

There was just an article in last months veterinary magazine at my work describing a growth that looks very similar if not just like that one. I can't remember the name of the growth but they are generally easy to remove. Or at least easy if you use the technique that the magazine listed. They pretty much just cut around the growth (if I remember right some sort of dental tool works best actually) and then you kind of pull it out of the pad. Almost like a wart or the like, the growth kind of has a root to it. I don't have much internet access at all but if I can I will get the info from work & email it to you. I can't promise it though, sorry. Generally they are harmless (non-cancerous) although they can cause your pet discomfort.
I'll try my best to find the article & get it to you. Good luck!

[cyber-sibes]

Thank you Sue, I really appreciate it. She goes in on March 26th for the dental work.
I was feeling ok about it, but Mr. Chihuahua posted about Mister's dad dying during dental surgery a few days ago. Not the kind of thing I want to hear about 2 weeks before she goes in, but I suppose that sort of incident is pretty rare. My vet seems to know a lot about siberians, he comments on them often when we're in there - I learned they have very small veins compared to other breeds.

[lv4dogs]

I'm so sorry Pat, they recylced the magazine. I did ask the Dr's about it though (though I was unable to show them your pics) and they remeber exactly what I had already postsed & that's about it. The vets I work with have yet to see a growth like that in person (from what I described & what the magazine showed) but they have read about them. I wish I could be of more help. We'll be keeping yous in our thoughts on that Monday. Good luck & hugs!

[cyber-sibes]

Thanks, Sue. It got a little worse, I think I knicked some skin off removing a large ice ball from her pad. She kept licking it, and now it's shrunk back down. I will have a talk with the vet about it before the oral surgery.

[Jakesmom]

Could you put a booty on it when she is outside so she doesn't get the ice balls?

My Jake has had laser surgery for removal of a growth on his head, the healing was definately quick. It was not for paw growth, I dont' know anything about these, but if it is bothering your dog and the booties are not along term viable solution, I would reccomend a referral vet to see if there is something more you can do, hopefully non-invasive if possible.

Good luck.

jake's mom

[wolf_Q]

Poor Star, I hope it's nothing serious! Maybe you could trim the fur on her feet so she wouldn't get ice balls stuck to them?

[cyber-sibes]

Could you put a booty on it when she is outside so she doesn't get the ice balls?Yes, that's what I did. We keep a set of sled dog booties as she has had a couple paw injuries. Seems to be better now, it shrunk back down. Our vet's biggest concern was the difficulty of getting a pad to heal, because after cutting something this size out, there's not much skin to cover the wound, and it's tough to keep them off of it. I'll see what he says now. If he doesn't feel comfortable removing it, I'll ask for a referral to a vet who can do laser surgery. I appreciate everyone's input & concerns. You've given me several things to look into.

Amy, it's so weird, we hardly had any snow, and she's never gotten big ice balls like this before. I don't usually trim their paws in winter because the fur actually helps their grip on icy surfaces.