Help Needed! Sore on paw

[Smashers]

I have read many posts on here about what could be on Smash's front paw but I just can't determine what it could be. The blister like thing has small openings that ooze pus sometimes but it's not decreasing in size, nor does it really seem to be bothering him. I put a little hydrogen peroxide on a qtip and rubbed it on the sore. I don't know if I should have done that or not I posted a picture below.. Any ideas??

 

[Vikinggirl]

Hi, this looks like a Interdigital Cyst to me.

 

[Vikinggirl]

Hi, this looks like a Interdigital Cyst to me.

[h=2]Cysts[/h]

Bulldog Interdigital Cysts

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Baggy Bulldogs​

Interdigital Cysts, (growths between the toes). Nobody really knows what causes them, some people think it is a fungus and some think it is an ingrown hair or that it may form as a result of the penetration of the skin by a foreign body — frequently grass awns. They usually clear up on their own and I am of the opinion they should not be punctured because that can lead to infection. And if possible try to avoid the antibiotic route unless there is an infection. Interdigital cysts are common in some breeds of dog . They are soft to firm fluid-filled swellings that form in the web of skin between the toes. They sometimes rupture and discharge fluid or pus.

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Breed Occurrence

The following breeds of dog are said to develop interdigital cysts commonly :

• English Bulldogs
• German Shepherd Dogs
• German Short-haired Pointers
• Great Danes
• Pekingese
• Scottish Terriers
• West Highland White Terriers

Signs

• Pigmentation of the skin and hair between the toes (red-brown-black)
• Soft to firm swelling(s) in the web of skin between the toes
• Discharge fluid or pus
• Increased licking or biting of the feet between the toes
• Lameness

Complications

Bacterial infection is a secondary complication.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based upon the typical location and appearance of the swellings in the interdigital skin. XRays may be taken to detect foreign material eg metal, or underlying involvement of bone, and a biopsy may be taken to eliminate the possibility of cancer.

Treatment

Medical treatment involves the use of corticosteroids (like prednisolone) which are effective in some cases. Surgical exploration of the cysts will help to identify and remove any foreign material eg grass awns.
Surgical removal (excision) off the swellings is the usual outcome if a patient does not respond to medical treatment. Unfortunately recurrence at the same site or in another interdigital web is common.
Prognosis

Good if a foreign body can be identified and removed. Guarded if no primary cause can be found because recurrence is common.

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When the area is not infected applying the bath instructions below in an early stage this will help to dissolve it in a few days in 90% of the cases.
Soak your dogs paws (preferably two or three times a day) with Epsom salts. The easiest way to do this is to do in the tub or fill the laundry tub up with 2 to 3 inches of warm water and 1 cup of Epsom Salts.
Put your Bulldog in the tub and just pet him for about 10 minutes or so. After ten minutes or so have elapsed, put your bulldog on a thick towel and gently pat his affected foot dry.
Some people use the method below when this does not work. My last Bulldog had this problem a few times but the method named above always worked for her so I never used the method described below.
After the first bath with Epsom Salts and drying its paws, fill up a cup with about an inch of hydrogen peroxide and hold his paws in this for a few moments. The area and in particular the cyst itself will respond to the hydrogen peroxide with bubbling, where as the rest of his foot does not. This shows that there is catalase enzyme present in these areas, which is one of the components released when blood or damaged cells are present.
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LEARN A LESSON FROM YOUR DOG, NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS YOU, KICK SOME GRASS OVER THAT AND MOVE ON.
​

 

[2BullyMama]

Sure is a cyst

 

[Roseann]

I don't know if this will help and I may be doing the wrong thing all together, so this is probably more a question to the better experts than advice. Macon had horrible feet when she came to me a couple months ago. Her nails were so long it was splitting her paws apart. I am fairy sure some were cysts and others were tears. What I started doing and still do is clean her feet every morning with a wipe that I spray with diluted chlorhexidine. After I wipe each paw I spray a little more on and rub in it. When they were horrible I did this twice a day, now I only clean them in the mornings. She still has some minor sore spots but it worked so well at healing her up. They were so bad, I've never seen anything like it. Even her dew claws were long enough that they had split the tiny toe and was a pussing sore. What I got was hibiclens. I've bought it at Walmart and at target. I worked wonders and my sister sent me to get some for her too. If I'm doing the wrong thing I hope some one will let me know.

 

[TyTysmom]

Yep, Interdigital Cyst - it will eventually go away on its own. But to help it along the way, do some warm epsom salt soaks for as long as he'll allow. It helps to minimize it, and get it smaller by the day

 

[Smashers]

Thank you everyone for the great info and support. Smash and I are so lucky to be members of this group!