What's a red bump with a black center between my dog's paw pads?

This looks like a severe hotspot but it could also be a foreign body such as a grass seed for example, that entered the skin and is causing this reaction, i would recommend getting it checked and treated by your vet as soon as you can.

It appears to be an interdigital cyst. Typically they get infected easily and are usually the result of allergies or a puncture or foreign body such as a grass awn or splinter. You can try to soak it in warm water but you normally have to do antibiotics to clear it or have it flushed out.

This looks like it may be a blood blister or possibly an insect bite. It does not appear very irritated and appears to have ruptured in the center. This will likely go away on its own within a couple of weeks. In the meantime keep it clean by flushing with water (only water - no soap or antiseptics) for one minute once a day. If the bump increases in size, gets red, or starts to have pus or bloody discharge, then take her to the vet.

As this mass or spot is in an area of the body where we do see melanomas and other masses and where there is not a lot of extra skin, I suggest you have this examined ASAP by your veterinarian. This may be just a little skin infection easily treated with antibiotics, however in case it is a tumor, the smaller the mass the easier it is removed and the better and quicker it heals.

This could be an infected cyst, mass or abscess. I recommend Mugzi get checked out by a veterinarian as this may need to be drained and antibiotics may be needed. In the meantime try to keep Mugzi from licking or chewing at the area and do not give him any medication as it can be toxic to dogs.

It could have an allergic component or be an interdigital cyst. A closer physical exam and possibly x-rays of the paw would be recommended. Ruling out a foreign body (grass seed, awn, foxtail, etc) or tumor would also be recommended. If your veterinarian will not pursue a more definitive diagnosis, consider a different vet in the practice or a different clinic entirely. Discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials and even antihistamine use with the vet. It looks like Cleo will need antibiotics once again anyway. Use an e-collar (cone) to prevent licking which can delay healing and may introduce infection.

It looks a little red and inflamed so it could be an infection. You could soak his paw in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps. Otherwise, have your vet take a look at him as he may need an antibiotic to treat the infection.