I found a cyst between my 11 year old lab’s paw. It was growing and bleeding. The vet tried to remove it, but said that the roots went around tendons and arteries. He wasn’t sure if it was cancer or benign. He did not biopsy it. In either case, he recommended removing her toes or paw if it returns.
She has terrible arthritis and really needs both her front paws to walk.
What are the implications if I just leave this cyst/tumor alone?
Thank You,
Craig
Tags: bleeding growth on paw, cyst on paws, dog with tumor, growth on paw
Dear Craig,
This is one of these questions that is best answered by a vet who knows your dog’s health background.
If you leave it alone and it is cancer, it can spread to other parts of your dog’s body. If it is benign but aggressively growing and is compromising the bodies systems, his suggestion is one way to treat it.
Our suggestion is to get a second opinion to fully know your options.
Regards,
Taylor
Blog Administrator
http://www.vetlocator.com
a 2nd opinion is called for. if small, sometimes the toe must be removed. dogs do fine without one toe. if it is a tumor, the longer you wait the worse it will get
My lab nad something similar two year ago. We watched it everyday to gauge its changes, but we were watching too closely and didn’t notice how big it had actually gotten. She had to have half her toe removed. She was able to heal properly and walks normally. Unfortunately, we just discovered another growth in the same area. We have an appointment with our vet to have it checked out.
I definitely recommend a second opinion. Losing one tow didn’t affect our dog at all. She was 9 when it happened. Best of luck.
Hello! My dog has a cyst on his front left paw and back right paw. It looks like a mole or a cyst. Is there something over the counter that I can use. Thanks! Rebecca
My dog is 15 years old and has a growth by her toes. When I came back from work she was chewing at the growth. I took her to the Vet and they are testing it for cancer. The Vet said that if it was cancerous she would have to have part of her toe removed. I do not believe she is a strong enough dog to go through an operation such as this. The Vet also gave me some antibiotics and after seven days I checked her toe and it appears that the swelling has gone down. There is still something there, but in a week perhaps it will be gone. Does that mean she does not have cancer? I will propably get the results this week.
Dog cancer symptoms are of grave concern to all pet owners. Although we don’t want to see cancer in our dog; as a responsible pet owner you need to be aware of the various symptoms of dog cancer.
We will list some of the most important cancer symptoms so that you will be informed and able to let your veterinarian know of any change in your dog’s health.
Before we continue please understand that these indicators of dog cancer are just that. They are simply things to watch concerning your dogs’ health
* Unusual swellings or tumors that get larger over time…
Finding a lump on your dog is scary to say the least. Now most lumps that we find are not cancerous. When we tell the vet about the lump she will probably want to do a needle biopsy. This will enable the veterinarian to make a diagnosis. There is a good chance that it is simply a lipoma. These commonly found lumps are generally benign, but they occasionally can be cancerous. Warts and cysts are types off non-cancerous lumps
* Open sores that fail to heal
Open sores can be the result of flea and tick allergies. Another possibility is allergic reaction to the shampoo you are using. A staph infection can also be the culprit.
* Problems urinating or defecating
Prostate cancer is rarely found in dogs. Less than 1% of older dogs are diagnosed with prostate cancer.The most common signs are problems with urinating and defecating and weakness of the rear leg. Prostate cancer is often the cause of bloody urine in older dogs. it is most often found in unaltered dogs
* Not eating their food.
When your dog quits eating his food one possibility is cancer. It may also be many other things so please don’t panic. It can also be a bad tooth. Another possibility is upset stomach
* Passing blood
Passing blood can be an indicator of cancer in your dog. Most times though this is merely a symptom of an infection or a virus. Still it would be wise to check check with your vet.
* Problems eating
Mouth cancer is very common in dogs. Common indicators are:Bleeding of the gums, odor and growths on gums.
* Unexplained weight loss
Gastrointestinal lymphoma is a common cancer in dogs and it can cause unexplained weight loss.
* Persistent lameness or stiffness
Bone cancer is commonly found in dogs: and osteosarcoma is the most common canine long bone tumor .It is often diagnosed as stiffness, pulled muscles or arthritis.
You now have knowledge of at least eight symptoms of dog cancer. The main thing is to be informed concerning cancer in your dog. You are the one person that your dog’s habits and are best able to know when something is wrong.