What is this suspicious mark on my dog's paw? Should I see a vet?

This is definitely a mass, however it is not possible to say whether it is benign or malign from a photo. Your vet will likely suggest the complete surgical removal of this mass. He may also suggest a biopsy or a fine needle aspirate (FNA) where some tissue of the mass is removed and then either sent in to a laboratory or examined under the microscope. This will help determine whether this is a malignant mass or a harmless one.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Max. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian for a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate. The veterinarian will collect a sample of cells and evaluate them under the microscope to diagnose the mass. A histiocytoma is a common benign growth on the extremities of young dogs. Unfortunately, a mast cell tumor is an aggressive cancerous growth that has the same outward appearance. This is why the cells need to be examined. I hope this information helps!

Hi. That looks like a mass on that foot. It could be benign, or malignant. It is hard to tell from this picture. It could even be something as simple as mole/wart like mass. The way to know would be to have him examined by your veterinarian and have the perform a cytology. A cytology is looking at the cells of these masses at the microscopic appearance of cells, studying them especially for the diagnosis of abnormalities and malignancies. Good luck.

Actually Sarge has two masses growing on his leg, the big one attached to his paw and the other is near the stifle. Apparently both masses are bothering him now as he is licking and chewing on the masses. This will need to be examined by a vet as these are likely tumors that may be benign but also malign. The mass on the foot will likely need to be removed, if only to avoid it getting infected or injured. The lesion on it may be from licking but could also be from growing and the skin not being able to expand any further. I suggest you make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam and a biopsy (usually a fine needle aspirate) which will aid in determining whether these masses are concerning.

No, that seems very unlikely if not impossible. This type of growth should be ideally checked by your local veterinarian to differentiate between skin cyst, benign or malignant type of tumors. Your vet can perform a fine needle aspirate or a biopsy to assess it. If it is painful it means it may be inflamed but not more than that.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. Common tumors in this region include melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas, mast cell tumors and soft tissue sarcomas, among others. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

I would recommend that you make an appointment for your veterinarian to examine Tyson and in particular this area that is worrying you. They will be able to determine if it is a mass and if further investigation is needed. This may include a fine needle aspirate of the mass (using a needle to obtain a sample of cells that can be looked at under the microscope), an incisional biopsy (where a small part of the mass is removed and examined by a pathologist) and an excisional biopsy (where the whole mass is removed and examined by a pathologist). It is always better to get lumps checked whilst they are still small to make removal easier and less invasive if that is deemed necessary.