How to Get Rid of Interdigital Cyst Dog?

What are Interdigital Cysts?

Interdigital cysts, also scientifically known as interdigital furunculosis, are large, red lumps usually filled with blood or pus. They develop between the dog’s toes & are more likely to form on the front paws than the rear paws.

The cysts cause extreme pain & require proper medical intervention to ensure that the source of discomfort to your pet is taken care of at the earliest.

There are multiple resources online that claim to help get rid of cysts without involving any professionals while using essential oils & other healing supplies,

but beware of such advice as they are not scientifically proven & delaying getting medical help may increase the problem.

What Causes Interdigital Cysts on the Skin?

An injury or irritation is the usual culprit that causes any inflammation. There are multiple factors that may cause interdigital cysts to occur. Dogs use licking as a method to soothe any irritation or pain that they feel.

However, these factors induce excessive licking of the paw by dogs, which damages the skin & hair follicles, in turn leading to the formation of cysts.

It is a good idea to keep yourself informed regarding the causes to prevent your dog from getting these cysts, or at the very least, help in early identification.

Improper Care

As a responsible pet parent, ensuring that you always keep your dog clean & properly groomed should be your #1 priority. By observing its physical condition in an ideal state, any health issues can be detected at an early stage.

Infestation

Skin irritation is caused due to infestation of fleas or ticks. This will cause your dog to excessively licking its paws to soothe the irritation.

Allergies

Get your dog tested for allergies if you haven’t yet done so. Find out the stimulus that causes excessive licking to manage the problem.

Ingrown Hair

Dogs having a short hair coat are prone to have cysts. This is because when the hair sheds, it may end up lodging into the skin, causing inflammation.

Obesity

If your dog is obese, it is putting greater weight on its paws while moving around. This excess pressure also impacts the webbing, which is the space between its toes-  causing sores to develop in these spaces.

Paw Shape

Due to any abnormality in the paw structure or any issues in its gait, the way its weight is distributed across the paw is affected.

If excessive pressure is put on the paws, it directly leads to excess pressure on the webbing, causing sores to develop.

Do Interdigital Cysts Bleed?

In the case of interdigital cysts, sores develop on the webbing & appear as reddish- purplish furuncles that bleed or ooze out puss when poked at.

The furuncles may rupture on their own or be ruptured open by your dog while licking or chewing it. Walking on the affected paw may also cause the cyst to burst open due to pressure & bleed.

How Do the Cysts on their Paws Affect Dogs?

Any inflammation is bound to cause pain. Since paws are the base that helps keep your dog balanced, such sores are bound to cause mobility issues and irritation to your pet.

Excessive Licking

An obvious response to sores is licking to reduce the pain. This is one of the most common indicators of cysts that dog owners need to be on the lookout for.

Limping

Due to the development of furuncles, your dog will be unable to walk normally using its affected paw.

Chewing

Since it is a new, unfamiliar development, your dog may try to chew on the cyst.

Can Breed of a Dog Be the Cause for Developing Cysts?

After discussing the factors that may cause interdigital cysts, you may notice that genetically, some breeds are more inclined to develop these swellings due to their breed. Some hereditary traits such as allergies & skin diseases may also make your dog prone to developing cysts.

Boxers & Pitbulls are breeds that are regularly seen at the vet to resolve the issue of interdigital cysts. However, this is not to say that belonging to any of the breeds mentioned above is a direct cause of developing cysts.

Is it Possible to Treat Interdigital Cysts Naturally?

While you can do your part by keeping your pet & its environment clean, there is no evidence to prove that these cysts can go away on their own without any interference from medical technology. It is better to take your pet to an expert right away & deal with the issue at the earliest.

Also, do not fall prey to the hacks & tricks to get rid of interdigital cysts using household supplies. It prolongs the period of pain that your beloved pet has to go through while wasting supplies that have no impact on eliminating the boil.

How to Get Rid of Interdigital Cyst Dog?

The only medically proven way of getting rid of cysts is with the help of a veterinarian. A bacterial culture and sensitivity test are taken to find the cause of the infection, which helps the vet figure out what medication should be used to treat the problem.

Depending on the results of the tests, your vet would prescribe any of the following treatments.

Using Laser on the Paw

Lasers can accurately focus on a particular part of the tissue or muscle, due to which the laser finds use in the removal of interdigital cysts on the paws of dogs. The cysts between a dog’s toes are removed through Carbon dioxide laser treatment.

This procedure ensures that only the affected tissue is treated without affecting neighboring tissues. It also effectively deals with the problem without changing the original paw structure, making it a preferred option.

Removal of Cysts through Surgery

Surgery is usually opted for in severe cases when multiple cysts are located closely on the same paw. In such cases, using a laser may be difficult since there are numerous affected tissues. Through surgery, the affected part of the webbing is wholly removed.

The remaining part of the webbing & toes is sewed together. This permanently changes the structure of the dog’s paw. Additionally, your dog will have to relearn to walk using the newly constructed paw after the surgery.

This may sometimes lead to limping issues for an extended period & if not done correctly, this procedure may cause structural problems that will impact your dog’s health in the long run.

Using Medication to Remove Cysts

This method is used when cysts are discovered at the earliest possible stage & the number of developing cysts is few.

The provided medication may be antibiotics or steroids, or a combination of both to treat the infected cyst.

The drugs may be administered as oral ingestible or with a direction to apply onto the surface of the cyst.

Using either of the methods mentioned above to treat cysts provide almost instantaneous results, whereas medication takes a long while to eliminate your dog’s cyst & show its effects.

Can Interdigital Cysts be Prevented?

While it is not confirmed that ensuring the following will directly prevent cysts, it is likely to minimize the risk of cysts & keep overall health issues at bay.

Manage Allergies

Run allergy tests on your dog at the earliest to find what is harmful to it. Most allergies can be managed through correct medication & therapy.

Manage Your Dog’s Weight

By maintaining your dog’s weight in a healthy range, the risk of obesity & mobility issues can be reduced, ensuring a long, healthy life for your dog.

Proper Upkeep

Ensure that your dog is always in a clean & well-groomed condition. This will help keep any possible infections at bay.

Keep Track of Any Abnormal Activities

If you see your dog acting differently than usual, immediately investigate the cause. If the activities exceed the expected behavior, take them to the vet.

Thus, this article won’t just be the ultimate guide to knowing how to get rid of interdigital cyst dog, but it will also ensure that you spend more time with your pet and know them inside out.