Trauma: Bruises, fractures, luxations (dislocations), bite wounds, and other types of injury.
Tumors: On skin, connective tissue, nerves, mammary glands, lymph nodes, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, perianal glands, sebaceous glands, and many other sites.
Infectious diseases: Interdigital furunculosis (interdigital cysts) due to bacterial infection.
What to do: Treat minor bruises with rest and sympathy. Contact your veterinarian if the bruise and pain do not subside within 24 hours. For lumps and bumps that are accompanied by pain or other signs of illness, contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately for specific advice about your dog’s situation. Otherwise, call your veterinarian during regular office hours to make an appointment for diagnosis and treatment.
Foreign bodies: Thorns, sticks, glass, and others.
What to do: For superficial foreign bodies (thorns, glass) that do not involve the eyes, ears, rectum, or genitalia, remove the object and clean the wound with warm saline solution and mild antiseptic such as povidone iodine or chlorhexidine solution. Contact your veterinarian if the site is reddened, swollen, oozing, or painful after 24 to 36 hours.
Disclaimer: DogChannel.com’s Dog Medical Conditions are intended for educational purposes only. They are not meant to replace the expertise and experience of a professional veterinarian. Do not use the information presented here to make decisions about your dog’s ailment. If you notice changes in your dog’s health or behavior, please take your pet to the nearest veterinarian or an emergency pet clinic as soon as possible.