My dog is limping with a white spot on her paw pad. What is it?

Dogs can get corns on their pads. This is common in greyhounds but can happen in any breed. They can cause discomfort when walking or running but not painful when touched. These can be cut back by your veterinarian so they don’t touch the ground. I recommend a veterinary exam to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

Hello, and thanks for your question. It's difficult to tell in the picture where the injury is. I'm possibly seeing a small area with minor irritation on the edge of the metacarpal pad (the larger pad behind the toe pads), almost like a rug-burn type injury... If that's the case, it will be a bit sore until the tissue starts to heal, but there isn't much to do other than monitor for infection and protect it from further injury. You can apply a topical ointment such as neosporin, and sometimes they're more comfortable if you apply a sock or bootie when Blitz goes outside. Avoid long walks and running off leash for a week or so, especially on abrasive surfaces such as concrete or gravel. Monitor for redness, swelling, or discharge that might indicate infection. If you see any of these, or if Blitz seems uncomfortable enough to need pain medication, then it's best to bring her in to the vet. Of course, if there's further injury besides the suspected "rugburn" or scrape I described above, don't hesitate to question again with a description of the injury you're seeing, and maybe a close-up with an arrow to the injury in question... Hope this helps!

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This could just be an allergic condition, but looking at the spotty nature of the pads, I would also be concerned that this might be an auto-immune condition called pemphigus, where the lesions are often first noticed on the footpads. Since this has been ongoing for several months, & now she is showing signs of pain, it is time to have your veterinarian evaluate the pads for what is going on. Hope all is well. Take care.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It looks like she may have a bacterial infection between her foot pads. I'd suggest taking her to the vet within the next 24 hours. They can prescribe antibiotics if it is an infection, and also look for an underlying cause, such as a foreign body that is sticking into her skin, or a soft tissue injury that is causing her to lick her foot due to pain. In the meantime, continuing with the epsom salts may hep to relieve inflammation, and tramadol can also help with pain. If she has been licking, an e-collar should be worn to prevent further damage. I hope this helps, and that Sophie is feeling better soon!

Hello. It is very difficult to tell exactly what you are trying to show because of all the hair there. It does somewhat resemble a plantar wart, but I am afraid a hands on exam will probably necessary to truly identify what this is. You can try bandaging up the paw in essence creating a sneaker to protect the area, but do try to have this looked at in the near future in case additional treatment is necessary. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It is difficult to make out exactly what this is based on the pictures, but it appears to be an ulcerated sore that has opened up on the paw pad. I would recommend having this looked at by your veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. This sore could be a mass or an infected wound. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These could be benign or malignant growths. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. These could even be the result of an infection. These lesions are likely the reason why she is limping though other things like a soft tissue injury are also possible. 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 night!