My dog has an irritated, pus-filled sac between his toes. What to do?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My dog has an abcesed sac in between hos toes. It wasnt bothering him for the last few months and has since become mildly pussey and irritated.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 4th, 2018
Hello, thank you for your question about your dog. Based on the symptoms you're describing and the photo that is attached I would agree that this lesion appears to be an abscess, these can occur secondary to an untreated skin infection or possibly secondary to foreign material (such as a thorn or trauma). Since the lesion is becoming more irritated and not improving I would recommend having your dog seen by a veterinarian so that they can clean/flush out the infection and prescribe some antibiotics. They also give you an e-collar so that your dog does not continue to lick and irritate the area. Hope this helps, good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on February 13th, 2017
I don't know that isoderm will help, since that is meant more for acne. The lesion on your dog's foot could be a small wound or thorn that has gotten infected, an insect bite, or a localized skin infection. If there is just the one spot, I recommend washing it with antibacterial soap, rinsing and drying it well and applying a cotton ball moistened with regular hydrogen peroxide. Do this twice daily and if it isn't significantly improved tomorrow, or gets worse, or your dog starts acting ill, make an appointment to get it seen by your vet.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Hi last night noticed my dog has a pus filled sore in between a toe on the underside, iv used isoderm cream will that help? Thanks
I don't know that isoderm will help, since that is meant more for acne. The lesion on your dog's foot could be a small wound or thorn that has gotten infected, an insect bite, or a localized skin infection. If there is just the one spot, I recommend washing it with antibacterial soap, rinsing and drying it well and applying a cotton ball moistened with regular hydrogen peroxide. Do this twice daily and if it isn't significantly improved tomorrow, or gets worse, or your dog starts acting ill, make an appointment to get it seen by your vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a a small red abscess in between his toes. It's about the size of a fly. It looks like a blood blister. He itches his feet a lot anyways. So I'm not sure if it's bothering him. It looks like it may pop. Any suggestions on what it may be. A
It is possible that there is a small infection from stepping on something sharp, a small tumor, an interdigital cyst, or even something stuck under the skin. I would recommend that you take Stringer to a vet for evaluation. If there is something under the skin (called a foreign body), often it can start to migrate under the skin and continue to cause problems. He would probably benefit from oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Make sure he isn't licking this area as licking will spread bacteria and decrease healing.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
She's had this for a week now. She keeps being at it. What should I do. I'd so anything homeoptic
Hello! I'm sorry to see that your dog is having some trouble with her foot. It appears to moist and irritated between the toes, and there is also some swelling around the nail beds of two of her nails. I am very concerned that this may be a skin infection, and possibly also a nail bed infection (which can sometimes be tricky to treat because of how deep the nail goes into the toe). I do not recommend continuing the Zymox spray without the advice of a veterinarian, as it contains hydrocortisone (a steroid). Steroids will decrease inflammation, but they also suppress the immune system. I strongly suggest that you bring your dog to visit the vet as he or she may require antibiotics and/or antifungals to treat any potential infection she has. In the meantime, you can try soaking her foot in cool, mildly soapy water, followed by thorough drying. If your dog is licking the foot, I recommend placing an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) on his or her neck to prevent further licking, which can exac
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What could this possibly be? It was pussing now it's like this
This looks like a local abscess from a bite wound or an insect bite or if there is a mass there it could have been a cyst that got infected. If he is licking it, I recommend to place a cone collar to prevent him from doing that. Also I would clean it with a mild anti-bacterial soap and water. You can try putting some neosporin on it but if it isn't improving, you will likely need to see your vet for an exam and some oral antibiotics to get rid of the infection. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My almost 3 year old dog has developed this growth on the top of her paw next right at her toe . It’s red and looks as if it’s scabbing. What sound it be?
This may be an abscess, a cyst or a tumor. You should have it examined by your veterinarian, as it is not possible to distinguish these by just looking at a photo. An abscess can usually be treated with antibiotics and/or be lanced, and a cyst can be evacuated. To identify a tumor, your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, can I know what happen to my dog hand as I found that there is a lump on his hand. When I try to touch, he keep his paw away and he keep licking it. I feel like there is some pus inside and it swelling. Please help.
The bump you are seeing could be a mass, or it could be a skin lesion caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, or could be a combination of the above. I recommend making an appointment to have your dog seen by your veterinarian to help determine the cause of the bump you’ve noticed and to make sure it is treated appropriately. The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine what is causing the bump and to provide treatment. . In the meantime, if he is licking the area, I recommend putting an e-collar/cone on him to help prevent licking and reduce the risk of infection.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Cleo has a bump inbetween her toes and has had antibiotics for it before as it has been infected and keeps getting inflamed as she keeps licking it. Her vet said it's down to arthritis but she is now on painkillers for that and the bump still keeps c
It could have an allergic component or be an interdigital cyst. A closer physical exam and possibly x-rays of the paw would be recommended. Ruling out a foreign body (grass seed, awn, foxtail, etc) or tumor would also be recommended. If your veterinarian will not pursue a more definitive diagnosis, consider a different vet in the practice or a different clinic entirely. Discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials and even antihistamine use with the vet. It looks like Cleo will need antibiotics once again anyway. Use an e-collar (cone) to prevent licking which can delay healing and may introduce infection.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a pink pimple on the bottom of his paw pad and is limping. What is it and what do I do
This may be an abscess, a cyst or a tumor. You should have it examined by your veterinarian, as it is not possible to distinguish these by just looking at a photo. An abscess can usually be treated with antibiotics and/or be lanced, and a cyst can be evacuated. To identify a tumor, your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the bump with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether the mass is concerning.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, I have a 4yo male GSD that has a cyst-looking bump just above his rear right metacarpal pad. I noticed it a few days ago when it drained after a play session. Since then I've kept an eye on it and it has become firmer and two pores appear to have
I can’t tell exactly what this is with the picture alone but a draining wound on the foot warrants an examination by a veterinarian. It could be an infection/abscess and the location (being so close to the ground) can cause the wound to become dirty and soiled, making the infection worse. Or, there could be a mass present and if this is the case, it would need to be removed as soon as possible. In the meantime, until you can get to your vet, keep the area clean and dry and try to prevent Rex from licking the area. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my boxer has a red raised sore in between her toes, does not seem to bother her at all. It does not appear to have any fluid in it.
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. What toy are describing could be a sore from a puncture secondary to a thorn or something sharp, a bug bite or ingrown hair. I would recommend applying a topical medication such as zymox topical ointment and apply to the area until resolved. If there is no improvement or the area worsens then I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at this for further testing and treatment recommendations. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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