What is this painful, thin, discolored thing sticking out of my dog?

This looks like a skin mass or tumor. Sometimes a benign growth or cyst can have some material inside that you can squeeze out like this. Unfortunately it also could be a malignant mass. I would recommend having your vet take a look - they may want to take a sample using a small needle to help determine what it is.

Hello. This looks like a small, benign button tumor. Usually, they do not grow significantly & sometimes they regress spontaneously. Do not pop this yourself because of the risk of infection. Any lump & bump should be thoroughly examined by your veterinarian because while this looks benign, it may not be. If your vet tells you he is concerned & it should be removed, this is an ideal time to do so while it is very small. Otherwise, leave it be until your vet has a chance to look at it. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It is difficult to say exactly what this is because cysts, small tumors & other benign skin growths can all look pretty similar. We do not recommend doing any squeezing on things like this because you could inadvertently introduce bacteria back into it & then you have a real problem. You should contact your veterinarian to schedule an appointment. Only after a hands-on examination can a plan be determined. One might be to just continue to watch this (without squeezing out the contents), or to remove it, send the tissues off for pathology, & make sure this is not something worrisome. I hope it is just benign, but it is better to know than worry. Thans for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. This looks like a small cyst, nothing too worrisome. It may pop & if it does, just clean the area with a good skin antiseptic like Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ). A warm compress or soaking the foot in warm water for 10 minutes 2-3 times per day may bring things to a head sooner, but this does not appear to be at all dangerous. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It seems to be a skin cyst of some sort. It's very difficult for me to know without seeing it. Based on your description, you are likely seeing sebaceous cysts, comedones or possibly a wart. Either way, the actual cyst is not a big problem, but it could indicate another issue. Some conditions can cause an increased incidence of these cysts, so it's best to have your vet check out Demon and see if there is any need for concern. Also, I do not recommend squeezing the cysts, because you can sometimes cause inflammation and in-turn infection to the area. I hope that helps and all is well with Demon.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Chances are that this is a sebaceous cyst. Sebaceous cysts are usually harmless, sack-like growths with a lining that is not cancerous. In dogs, most cysts develop from hair follicles. These cysts typically appear as single, clearly defined, firm or soft lumps located in the skin or just beneath it. They are often between 0.5 to 5 centimetres in size and may sometimes have a bluish colour. A cyst can release a thick, gray-to-yellow-brown cheesy substance if it bursts. Other terms for sebaceous cysts in dogs include infundibular or follicular cysts. The lump needs to have a fine needle aspirate (FNA)/cytology to be sure of that diagnosis. Here is a link about the procedure and why it is done. It does not require anesthesia. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cytology-fine-needle-aspiration-fna ) If it is a sebaceous cyst, it will be very obvious once the vet introduces the needle into the lump. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

This looks like either a cyst or a papilloma wart. Both very common and benign. Unfortunately, our system is having a glitch and I can't enlarge the photo so I can't get a great look but I'm pretty confident it's not much to be concerned with. Personally, I would not be worried about it at all. Just point it out to your vet at Gizmo's next exam.