Anyone know what this is?

[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 -

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" 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.