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My dog has white pus bumps on paws. Is it a skin infection?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 1 year and 9 months old | 12.2 lbs

My dog has a few little whitehead pimples on her toe paws, little pimples with white pus and are small. They dont hurt but should i be concerned?

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on August 25th, 2016

If they look like little pimples with white pus in them, this is usually a sign of a bacterial skin infection called pyoderma - this can occur on its own, or as a result of an underlying problem such as allergies or skin mites (mange). If they don't seem to be bothering her, you can try soaking the affected paws in warm water with epsom salts for 5 minutes twice a day - often, this will help to resolve a mild infection in this area. If this doesn't help, or if the bumps seem to be spreading or if they become itchy or painful, then I would recommend having G examined by a vet - he/she can prescribe antibiotics to treat the skin infection, and can also do some simple tests to try and determine if there is any underlying problem causing it.

22Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
It sounds like she has a bacterial skin infection. The best thing would be to have your vet take a look at her to determine the exact cause. If it is an infection, your vet can prescribe an antibiotic. You could also try to soak her foot in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps.
18Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on September 26th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection though it is not possible to know without an examination. I recommend you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this and treat accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 10th, 2017
Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. Based on your photo, the bumps could be due to something that injured the skin such as a thorn or that she has allergies and this could be what we call pododermatitis starting. I would recommend examining the area for any evidence of thorns and if you do not feel anything sticking out of the area, I would recommend applying a spray to the foot such as malacetic conditioning spray twice daily until resolved. If there is no improvement or the area worsens, I would recommend having this examined by a veterinarian as an oral antibiotic and anti-inflammatory may be needed. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be happy to help you further!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 7th, 2019
If it is filled with pus then you might need to use an anti-bacterial shampoo to treat a bacterial infection. You probably shouldn't be bathing more then twice a week. You could try a topical spray, like Vetericyn wound spray, and see if that helps. Otherwise, she should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. She may need an antibiotic, anti-fungal, and/or other medications and your vet can prescribe. it might also be a sebaceous cyst that needs to be removed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My dog has a new pimple-like bump on his paw. What is this growth?

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Lucky. It is possible this is a small pustule/bacterial infection maybe due to a wound (stepping on something sharp) but it could also be a small mass/growth (it is hard to say without seeing it in person). You can try applying warm compresses a few times a day to bring it to a head and putting a topical antibiotic ointment on the area 2-3 times a day. If the area is not resolving within a week or if it is getting larger/painful then an exam is recommended.

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My dog has recurring pimple-like bumps between toes. What's wrong?

It could be a sign of infection (bacterial, fungal, or mites), autoimmune disorder, or foreign body. Since they have come back repeatedly, I would recommend that your dog see a vet for diagnosis. While you wait for an appointment, you could try a follicle flushing, medicated shampoo like Dechra DermaBenSs Shampoo.

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Why does my dog have popping bumps on his head, ears, and paws?

With his age I would be concerned about puppy pyoderma (bacterial skin infection common in young dogs) but a type of mange and secondary bacterial infection is also possible. If this is mange then his skin won't clear without treating both diseases. There is also a possibility of ringworm. Your veterinarian could do an exam and go over in detail the tests for those diseases and treatment options. Alternatively some try an OTC pet medicated shampoo but if the skin doesn't clear up then a visit to the veterinarian is needed.

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My dog has a rash with pus bumps and scabs. Is it an infection?

The bumps are most likely due to a bacterial skin infection based on your description. These infections usually happen due to some irritation or excessive moisture on the skin. It's best to have a veterinarian look at this, so they can determine what treatment is necessary and possibly find the inciting cause. You can help the infection right now by giving her a bath with medicated shampoo (you can find this at the pet store). Gently massage the shampoo into the skin for 15 minutes and rinse well after bathing. The bath can be repeated every day until the infection starts to clear, then can be reduced to once a week. I hope that helps and Fred gets better soon.

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Health & Wellness

My dog's paw has a painful, swollen lump with pus. What to do?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has a painless pimple on its paw for months. Should I worry?

This isn’t a pimple. It is a small mass in the top layer of the skin. It could be a cyst, a wart, or a benign or cancerous growth. The only way to know for sure is to have your vet collect a sample with a needle to examine under a slide or to remove the whole mass and send it to the lab for evaluation. Until that happens, you can watch it for changes in size, color, texture, etc. If you notice any changes, I would call your vet to see if they can get you in sooner.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has pus-filled bumps all over his back. Is it serious?

This presentation is due to a diffuse and quite severe pyoderma. A medicated shampoo, systemic antibiotics and a check up are absolutely needed to solve the problem. Pyoderma could be secondary to other diseases which cause immunosuppression. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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