Help with interdigital lump

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Cristina Diaz-Madronero GP Cert(Derm) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:14:00 GMT

Also consider the possibility it might be a interdigital cyst secondary to Atopy. Most of the time they are sterile when biopsied and cultured. Long Ab courses with Cefalexine at 20 mg/kg bid for 6/8 weeks might help but in some cases the only way to remove them it's surgery. Have you done a full skin w/u?.

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Adrienne McPartland — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:45:19 GMT

No I realised after I should have done that

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Stephen Courtney — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:28:18 GMT

Just a thought - did you do a fine needle aspirate? that might have gone some way to answering questions, especially regarding infection.

also don't forget good pain relief regardless of what else you decide to do

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Adrienne McPartland — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 20:08:07 GMT

Have him on antibiotics over the weekend... so shall see how he has gotten on ....

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Robin Grimmer — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:12:23 GMT

Coukd be an interdigital cyst. Might be worth trying on antibiotics first, especially bearing in mind the dog's temperament and difficulties of operating in this area.

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Stephen Courtney — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 23:09:59 GMT

Make sure that when discussing options with the owner you make realistic estimates for the costs likely to be incurred in operating but also in providing post op care, such as repeat sedations for dressing changes, and including potential complications such as wound break down, repeat surgeries and even recurrence of the mass. don't treat cheap or you will have a nightmare with the client as well as the animal. if they insist you operate, make sure it's worth your while

If the dog's personality is such that surgery is not possible, then perhaps some form of analgesia eg tramadol/ nsaid combination might be an idea? i doubt this mass has really appeared overnight, and pain relief might help. A more conservative approach such as scooping the plug out with a rongeur or curettage might improve things, and that could probably be done under sedation +/- local anaesthetic.

If he is as bad as all that, and he was my dog, he would probably be off to heaven fairly shortly. the world is full of nice dogs that need homes. but I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and provide good analgesia before anything irrevocable.

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Adrienne McPartland — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 21:19:25 GMT

Yes thats exactly what it looks and feels like. The dog is extremely vicious - owner been hospitalised twice due to him... so he was heavily sedated ...assessment of painful hard to say really ..

I'm also not looking forward to surgery, it feels quite firmly attached to the surrounding pad. after care for this particular dog would be nightmare, owners are even afraid of him, he would need heavy sedation every time he would need to be examined, bandage changes etc

Re: Help with interdigital lump

Stephen Courtney — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 21:12:52 GMT

It certainly looks like a keratinaceous plug, am i correctly seeing a general swelling with two raised discrete smooth nodules?

Is it hot and inflamed, is it painful on general palpation? it looks quite hard, and i suspect the lameness is similar to how a human would be with a stone in the shoe.

It looks like some sort of keratin plug/ keratoma, and no, i have never seen anything quite like that!

Is there any chance you can pick away or express any of the plug material? otherwise you are probably looking at surgery - not something I'd enjoy personally., the after care will be awkward....