My dog has a lump on his back foot that's getting bigger. What is it?

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. Common tumors in this region include melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas, mast cell tumors and soft tissue sarcomas, among others. 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 him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry Mia is having this issue. If this was a simple injury surely it would have healed by now. The fact that it has been going for a year and is growing, I would recommend you have it surgically removed and sent off to a lab for histopathology. Due to the location of this mass, if it gets much larger it will be harder to remove as there is not a lot of extra skin to close a large incision in that area. This is just my opinion. What the mass actually is though, I cannot say just by looking at a photo. It may be benign but it could also be malignant. The histopathology will tell which it is. It could also be that she has a foreign body (maybe a splinter or something) under the skin that is festering so this may not be a mass at all. It is really difficult for me to say just by looking at the photo. It is a possibility however, I would have expected it to cause more of an infection by now if that was the case. Still a possibility though. You are always welcome to get a second opinion by another vet that can examine her in person. Remember, you know Mia best and need to be her advocate. If you are uncomfortable or have a bad feeling about something then voice those concerns. In my opinion it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you are worried then removing the mass is the best option. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. This looks to be a histiocytoma tumor which is a benign tumor commonly found on the limbs and face of dogs. It is a benign tumor that usually will regress on its own within a few weeks/months with no treatment. Of course, I am just guessing. It is impossible to diagnose these things via the internet with just a photo. Here is an information sheet about histiocytomas in dogs for you to read. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/skin-cutaneous-histiocytoma ) He should not be licking the tumor - if he is, you need to get him a cone collar to wear to stop that behavior. If he is just licking the paw, that is not likely related to the tumor and is a different issue. As always, if you are worried, you should take him to your vet for an exam. Best wishes.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the mass and the fact that Gunner is a young dog, I would suspect that this is what we call a histiocytoma. These typically resolve on their own but can be surgically removed to help speed up the resolution of the mass. If it is continuing to grow and if it bothers him, I would recommend having this removed surgically and then send it out for further testing to make sure this is not a cancerous mass. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A growth like Spike has on his toe could be related to infection, a benign mass like a cyst, but unfortunately it could also be a cancerous growth. It would be best to schedule a visit to your veterinarian so that he or she can obtain a small needle aspirate sample from the growth and decide if it is cancerous. A lot of growths on the toes can be cured if removed surgically. I hope for the best outcome for Spike!

Hi there! That’s a really helpful picture, thank you for including it. I am definitely concerned about the possibility of that growth being cancerous. However, whether is is benign or malignant, the location is troublesome. Removal of a mass of that size on that area of the foot can be very difficult. There is not much room/ skin to work with, and obtaining good clean tumor free margins of tumor removal is challenging. I would highly encourage you to have SweatPea examined by your veterinarian soon, as the larger it gets the less likely surgery can be done. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.