My dog's foot lump isn't healing. Will it heal without surgery?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Abby. I am glad that she will see her veterinarian. She could have a cancerous growth, but hopefully it is a benign mass such as a cyst or other type of growth. A procedure known as a fine needle aspirate is commonly performed to diagnose a mass. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. Based on these results, treatment recommendations can be made. For example, if the mass appears cancerous, then surgery will be recommended. Bone cancer occurs in dogs, but is not common in the location shown in your pictures. So this is less likely. I hope this information helps!

It really depends on the cause of the swelling, but usually pain medication the route you would have to go. Generally for issues like this that are not treated surgically, we manage the pain and inflammation with long-term medication at the lowest effective dose. While there are some potential side effects, most dogs can be treated rather effectively this way. It will be worthwhile to have a blood screen done to make sure the liver and kidneys are functioning well prior to starting the medication and it may be necessary to take blood periodically to ensure they are not causing any damage. Your veterinarian should be able to help you out with all of this. I hope that helps and Oscar feels better soon.

Diamond needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. This could be a cyst, an abscess or a necrotic tumor. It looks like it could be infected whatever the cause. If it is a cyst or tumor, it will need to be removed. If it is an abscess, it will need a drain. It probably does hurt. She needs an exam, possible diagnostics, medications to address and infection (if present) and pain. She also needs an elizabethan collar so she cannot lick the area. I hope they figure out the cause quickly.

This is either a tumor, or infection. Infections are common in this area, because things like thorns and grass awns can get stuck in-between the toes. Tumors are a possibility in this area as well. We worry about certain types of tumors on the toes, because they tend to spread easier than others. Since Toby is also acting lethargic, I am more worried about cancer, or a systemic infection. Considering this, it's best to have Toby seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible in the next day or two. The vet will be able to quickly narrow-down the cause of this and start providing treatment to make him feel better. They will also be able to give you various diagnostic and treatment options. I hope that helps and Toby feels better soon.

This lump looks like it could be a cyst or other skin growth or tumor, and I doubt it is related to the limping. The limping more likely would be related to arthritis, previous trauma or other joint disease. I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian. They can examine the lump and may recommend taking a sample using a small needle to determine what it is. They can also examine Moose's leg and may recommend taking x-rays.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Since Hazel's shooting accident was so long ago, I wouldn't expect her current limp to be directly related to that injury. I suspect this is something new. It's difficult to say if the lump is the cause of her limping, but it's certainly possible. The lump could be related to an abscess (infection) secondary to a wound, or could be either a benign or malignant growth. It would be best to have Hazel seen by a veterinarian to determine the cause of her limp and the source of that lump on her shoulder. If it's an infection, she will need to go on antibiotics and the lump may need to be drained. If it's a cancerous growth, your vet can discuss the procedure and cost associated with having it removed. Regardless, this is not likely to be a problem that will resolve on its own so it's best to have Hazel seen by a vet. Hope this helps.

Poor Tobi! I would gently clean his wounds with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I'd also take him into the vet if the lumps get bigger or stay the same size over the next couple of days. I hope this helps!