Donna went for her annual vacinnation today! FB post here, and please like our page while you are at it. Thank you! :P Donna also had this spotty white patch on her paw pad. The vet advised us to just continue observing it. Happily, it disappeared after a few months! For anyone with similar concerns, here are the details.
March 2013, I first noticed the white patch on my dog’s paw pad
Early in the first quarter of this year, I had noticed this white patch on her paw.
I couldn’t wipe it off so it seemed to be little nodules growing there rather than just dirt stuck to her paw. She didn’t seem to be limping or hurting. I wanted to show it to the vet when we were there previously, but I couldn’t seem to find it at the vet.
A few weeks after the vet visit, I saw it again when my dog, Donna, was lying on her side. I quickly snapped a picture of the white spot on her paw.
A nice person on the dog forum thought it could be a callus, which can be filed down. But when I e-mailed the photo to the vet clinic, they replied that the white patch appeared to be “depigmentation” and that if the white spot is raised, it should be seen immediately.
I had never heard of depigmentation before, so I did some research online. It seemed like at its worse, depigmentation can be a symptom of an autoimmune disease. Lameness can also occur. Diagnoses needs to be done by referencing the dog’s history, physical examination, skin scraping and biopsy.
At that point in time, the white patch on her paw appeared flat, so we were advised to monitor for the following:
- if it is spreading or getting bigger over the next month,
- any change in colour or
- if it becomes ulcerated with the skin peeling off
May 2013, Vet visit
We had the vet take a look at the white patch on our dog’s paw when we had to take her in to the veterinary clinc. Donna had poisoned herself nibbling on a hydrangea leaf that time.
The white clump of tissue on her paw remained about the same with no obvious change in size. But, the vet noted that her other paw pads also had the same lightening in colour although not as obvious as the white patch on the paw pad here at the top of this photo.
The vet explained that we do not know what causes this lightening to happen but there is no reason for concern as long as the white patch does not enlarge, become raised, change colour or become ulcerated with the skin peeling off.
So we continue to monitor but there is no need to over-worry. As Life in the Dog Lane has shared, her dog Juno had one on her paw for two years and it has also not changed or cause her any discomfort.
December 2013, the white patch has disappeared!
A couple of months back, while cutting the dog’s nails, I realised belatedly that the white patch on her paw pad had disappeared! Just as suddenly as we discovered it, it was gone. I don’t have an answer to that, although we had started to walk her at night so it was cooler and kinder to her paws then in the day time, even it heats up quickly in the morning. Still I would say it is hard to draw any conclusion based on that.
If you landed on this page looking for information on white patches on dogs’ paws, I hope this page has helped you. Please do consider making a visit to the vet if the white patch is raised or is growing. When in doubt about strange growths on your dog, its best to consult with your veterinarian. : )
Update 9 March 2018: I now suspect that the white lump described in this post above was a viral papilloma due to its somewhat cauliflower-like appearance. Donna subsequently grew another lump in 2017 and we had that removed and diagnosed as a viral papilloma. To learn more about viral papilloma, read this post – what is viral papilloma!
This post was first published in March 2013, follow up post in May 2013 on weliveinaflat.wordpress.com. The two posts were combined, edited and updated for re-publication in December 2013 on weliveinaflat.com here.
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Dear Dog Diary
Hi and thanks for stopping by our blog! Juno has one of these on her paw too – it’s been there for two years and hasn’t changed in size or appearance and doesn’t cause her any trouble or discomfort. Hope that helps?! Donna is adorable :)
pjdonna
Hi, yes! It does help to know that it may not turn into something bad. :) It’s the first time we have a dog so I may over-react with every new cough and bump. :P Thank you so much for letting me know!
Paul Grignon
Good to find out what that patch was on her paw. Must keep that in mind in case we see it on Andi. Oh, and thank you very much for following me. I appreciate it very much!
Take care,
Paul
pjdonna
It’s my pleasure. We don’t know much about puppies since we adopted Donna as an adult. And it was interesting reading your post. ; ) We did see the vet eventually but the vet tells me they don’t know why it occurs either, just that they do see it in some dogs.
artinstructor
Thanks for stopping by my blog and following. Your dog is adorable and I hope the spot goes away or never bothers her.
pjdonna
So far so good with the spot, fingers crossed, thanks for coming by too! : )
weggieboy
Our animal companions are very good at hiding their illnesses and injuries. It’s good you recognize the need to get a professional opinion about something that looks odd if initially not particularly serious.
I bet you’re glad you did, too!
Best of all, it shows you are worthy of your pup, and that you intend to do what’s necessary for your pup’s health and quality of life.
In my mind, that makes you a very good person indeed!
weliveinaflat
Thank you for the praise :)
weggieboy
Thank you for producing one of the better blogs on animal companion issues! I’m a cat guy these days, though I love dogs, too. I attached a link to your blog on my facebook page because there is so much accurate, usable detail in it on how to be the best companion one can be for one’s dog, in your case. Donna is one lucky pup!
Kyla
I’ve had a white patch on my black nose for about five years. Nothing changes and I guess it’s now part of me.
pljx@live.com.sg
I never noticed that white patch on your nose until you mention it! I probably will be quite conscious of it in future :P It’s kind of annoying isn’t it, like a bit off white fluff hanging around the nose that you can see from the corner of your eye?
Kuruk
Glad it’s all better! Woooowooooo!
pljx@live.com.sg
Indeed!
Will and Eko
Glad to hear it turned out to be nothing, I know it’s nice to finally hear a vet say it.
pljx@live.com.sg
Yup, no news is good news!
Lindsay
I’m so glad it went away. Let’s hope it stays away. Maybe it was just some sort of fungus or something. This is a good reminder for the rest of us to check our dogs closely every week or so for tiny differences like little bumps that may appear.
pljx@live.com.sg
Fingers crossed it stays away!! Helps that we wipe down the dog after every walk, bathe and cut her nails ourselves. So we really look at her thoroughly. Poor molested dog! :P
NW Frame of Mind
I’m glad the spot went away! Your new site looks great too. :)
pljx@live.com.sg
Thank you, Lisa. Still very much work in progress. I noticed you have changed your theme too! The pictures seem to render at a bigger size now :) Very cool.
NW Frame of Mind
Thanks for noticing I changed my theme, it was time for a new look. :). I’m glad you like the large size images!
pljx@live.com.sg
I do, I think bog sizes show up the photos better :)
Sonel
I am very glad to hear it disappeared Mrs. P. I know how worried we can get with things like that. Donna is truly blessed to have such caring parents. :D *big hugs*
pljx@live.com.sg
To be honest, it kept being there so I got less worried about after a while. A pity though, If I had kept a closer eye on it, I might have caught it shrinking before it disappeared! But glad it’s gone alright :) *Hugs :)*
hutchagoodlife
Glad to hear it was nothing serious and just went away. Whee know Mummy gets furry concerned about any changed in us because she knows how good whee are at hiding illness. It soulds like Donna is furry lucky to have hoomans who really care too!
Have a wonderful day
Nacho, Noah, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
pljx@live.com.sg
Oh mom must be very in-tuned to you guys having so much experience with piggies!! But I hope you guys will stay healthy and wealthy too! :) No hiding!
librarylady
Pets are so worrisome when things wrong with them. Wish they could talk about it instead of us having to mind read. Maybe someone should come up with with some “teach your dog to sign,” videos, like the ones they have for babies. (Just kidding, promise)
pljx@live.com.sg
Are the kidding about the ones for babies too? I hope. :P
librarylady
Heavens no. haven’t you seen all the Teach your baby to sign videos and books? It’s the latest thing, and I would think a huge guilt trip for young mothers who already have so many other things to worry about. Google, baby sign language.
pljx@live.com.sg
Haha, if they are sensible, teaching babies sign language is the least they need to worry about! Seriously, let a baby be a baby!
ILoveDogs
Very interesting. I’ve never heard of such a thing before. I’m glad it’s gone now.
sassmuffins
Glad it’s gone now. Can’t say as I’ve ever seen that on Gracie, although I have had dogs develop different types of skin issues with age. By the way, love your new website. Looks great!!
Ky
I know this is a very old entry, but it looks like it could have been a small case of canine papilloma, which is described as a cauliflower like wart. It is usually found on the feet or mouth and generally goes away on it’s own.