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What is this bump on my dog's paw? Should I take them to the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

I was wondering if u may could tell me what this may be

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3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 3rd, 2017

That looks like a little mass on the toe of your dog. It could be benign (non-cancerous) or it could be malignant/cancerous. I worry about masses on the toes because if they need to be removed there's not a lot of skin to close back after the mass removal. I would recommend taking him to your vet as soon as possible and having a cytology performed (where they take a sample of the cells and look at it under the microscope) so they can better determine what is going on and decide if it is a benign or malignant mass.

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    Answered By Menolly Cote, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on

    The red bump in the picture could be an interdigital cyst, an abscess or a growth of some sort. You can try soaking the foot in an Epsom salt bath twice a day for a few days to see if it helps. If the bump is not resolving, is getting worse or if your dog seems uncomfortable I would recommend that you have him or her seen by a veterinarian.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    It looks like some sort of lump, which could be caused by a histiocytoma (benign tumor), a cyst, a foreign body, another kind of benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Without seeing your pet in person, I can't say for certain what it is but I do recommend a vet visit to get a definitive diagnosis and treatment as needed.

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