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My dog has a hard lump on his paw. Is it a cyst? When to see vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 4 years and 11 months old | 57 lbs

I just noticed this hard lump on his right front paw today. What could it be?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 28th, 2019

Based on the color, it could be a cyst or a small mass. I would recommend having your vet test the area if it doesn't resolve on its own within the next 1-2 weeks or sooner if it seems to bother Ollie. Best of luck with Ollie and his growth and I hope that things resolve soon!

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Karly Macon, DVM, MS, CVA Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 8th, 2017

    Most small bumps like this are no cause for concern. It could be a small abscess, tumor, or cyst. The only way to know for sure is to have your veterinarian examine Ollie. He/she may want to take a sample from the mass with a needle and look at cells under the microscope for a diagnosis. This way you know if it is serious and needs to be removed, or if it is a harmless bump that is unlikely to cause any issues. This is not an emergency, and if it is not growing rapidly you can just wait for now and see if it goes away on its own. Hope that helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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