Growth on Dog's Padding

15 years ago

I have a Siberian Husky that is going on 7 years old in a couple of months. Back about a year ago I took him to the vet because he wasn't walking on his hind leg, after examining him, they found that his paw was swollen like he had gotten stung by something. They cleaned it all out, put him on antibiotics and he did fine.

Then a few months later the padding on the same paw looked as though he had sliced it open on something. We cleaned it and took care of it but it healed kinda funny...almost like the pad had scar tissue. He never favored it or anything.

A couple of months later we took him in for his yearly check up and I asked the vet about it. He said it was just how the pad grew back so he trimmed it back and kinda filed it down a little. Then six weeks later we found what looked like a nail growing out of the padding of his paw. I called the vet and they said that was impossible so I brought him and and they couldn't believe it. He had never seen this before and called one of the universities and they had never seen it but had read an article about it. Again he trimmed it and within 4 weeks it has grown back and is longer than before. He is beginning to show signs that it is bothering him now.

My vet said that it's not a nail but more like a horn like substance with live tissue inside it (almost like a cuticle in a nail). He wants to remove it but I am uncomfortable with doing that without knowing anything about it or being sure how to treat it once it is removed. He also said that he can't guarantee it won't grow back.

I read another post that had pics of corns on Greyhounds and it looks alot like that but long with a pink center (like a nail). It looks like it might even just pop out, like it is only attached at the bottom.

I have read other posts and seen others criticize people saying you need to take them to the vet...well I already have taken him to the vet 3 times so I don't need that kind of advice..what I am looking for is anyone else that might know anything more about this and can advise me on what to do or some one I might be able to talk to about the treatment.

I know this is long but I wanted everyone to know the history of it. I really appreciate any help anyone can give me.

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Comments (4)

cynthia_gw
15 years ago
My first thought was a corn too. But it's common in my breed - greyhound - and not common in others. You might try to consult with a greyhound vet in your area to see if they can id it as a corn or as something else. If it's a corn, you can either have it hulled (short term relief) or have it removed surgically by either scalpel or laser. I'm starting to think that laser surgery may have better prognosis in terms of reocurrence. Good luck!
Meghane
15 years ago
It doesn't matter laser vs scalpel or cautery, it all depends on the surgeon's ability to get the entire growth out. Depending on what the growth is, that can be easy or not so much. Some types of growths send out microscopic finger-like projections that you just can't see grossly, and then they recur. However getting a biopsy will tell you what the growth is and whether or not the surgical margins are clear.

On a paw pad, I would tend towards cautery because of better hemostasis than scalpel or laser. But that's surgeon's preference and availability of equipment.

I think the advice of searching for a vet who has had experience removing this type of growth is very good. I've removed one paw pad growth a couple of months ago and the margins were clear so we don't expect it to recur. It was a corn (has a fancy histopathological name I can't remember). I probably just got lucky:) Used cautery, since that's what we have available.

Obviously trimming it down isn't providing a long-term solution, and since it is causing your dog discomfort I would tend towards surgery for removal. I would highly recommend biopsy to determine exactly what it is and to evaluate surgical margins. I have been surprised several times, both pleasantly and not, about growths and now very rarely will remove one without histopathology. Especially since your vet has never seen this before.
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cynthia_gw
15 years ago
Even if removed 'entire', if the cause of the corn is viral, it can recur in the same place or another. No one knows for sure what causes these, and most dogs do have reoccurences once they get one. Since the dog can get 6 to 9 months of relief, it's worth having it removed.
cindyxeus
15 years ago
It sounds to me like your dog has hyperkeratosis. This is caused by an excess of growth of "keritin" in the dogs system. It can look like a nail or even a feather. If it's bothering the dog it is safe to remove and you probably should have it removed if filing it back isn't helping. But it may grow back and or another one may show up somewhere else.
Sometimes a change in diet stops the exces of keraten from growing excessively, but not always. Sometimes keeping the feet hydrated with specific solutions helps as well. Ask your vet about what he/she would suggest for that. Also you may get lucky and never see another one for years.
If you need more info just google "hyperkeatosis in dogs feet" and you should find a bunch of info.

Growth on Dog's Padding

Comments (4)

cynthia_gw

Meghane

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