My dog has a hard, bloody, pus-filled paw bump. Is it serious?

Any lumps/bumps that you notice on your dog should be checked out by your vet. Lumps can be any of these things: * abscess (infection) * cyst * cancer (benign or malignant) * wart There is no way I can tell you for sure what it is just based on your description or by looking at a photo but I have a suspicion that this may be a histiocytoma (benign tumor). ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952066 )

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like this wound that became a lump that is oozing fluid has become an abscess, or a pocket of infected fluid. Abscesses form when infection is trapped under the skin or within tissues such as fat or muscle. The bacteria will try to find a way out, so they can break through the skin and create a "draining tract" of pus. This should be addressed by your veterinarian, who will likely drain the abscess and open it up to allow continuous drainage. Antibiotics for at least 2 weeks will be needed, along with pain medications. Depending on the size of the wound/abscess, a bandage may be needed. I hope this is helpful! Thank you for seeking care for your Luna!

There are a few different things this can be on MIlly. It can be a Foreign body, so something punctured the skin and is still inside. It can be a growth but if this has gone away and came back it is less likely. It can also be an abscess or just inflammation. I would place on elizabethan collar on Milly until you can get her to a veterinarian, but this does need to be seen by a vet. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is definitely concerning that the lump has increased in size so quickly, as older dogs are typically more likely to develop cancers. The lump can also be an infection or cyst. I recommend having this seen by a vet as soon as possible - they can take a small sample from the growth to determine exactly what it is and recommend the appropriate treatment. I hope all is well!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bruno. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He may need a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate to diagnose the mass. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This will help to determine the type of mass and guide treatment. A histiocytoma is a common mass on the limb of a young dog. This is a benign growth. However, the outward appearance is the same as a cancerous growth known as a mast cell tumor. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him so that he does not cause any self-trauma. I hope this information helps!