Interdigital cysts due to poodle genes???

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Well Whopper has had a rough week. On Monday my husband called me because Whopper was limping and wouldn't let anyone really touch her left front paw. We took her to the vet that afternoon and the vet could tell she was in obvious pain and told us that it looked as if something had either poked her largest paw pad and exited or was now deeply imbedded and flush with the pad. She gave us antibiotics, a pain killer, and told us to soak it a few times a day hoping that would do the trick. Whopper's pain increased daily since then, she would get very protective over the paw, didn't have her usual energy, and after soaking last night we noticed the whole top of her paw was raw, red and swollen and bleeding as well. She was up all night breathing heavily (due to pain we assume) and constantly trying to lick her paw which kept us up as well. My husband took her to the vet this morning first thing and they shaved her paw and took x-rays. Nothing showed up on the x-rays so they ruled out a foreign object. With a closer look, they said she appears to have cysts in between a couple of her "toes" that have now ruptured. She said while this isn't an issue with goldens, these do happen in poodles and they aren't entirely sure why. There's nothing that can be done to prevent them and that if they're really bad they sometimes surgically remove them but these have already burst. We now have an additional topical antibiotic, a second pain medicine since Whopper has a low tolerance, a plastic boot to get her home in the rain, and a collar waiting at home to prevent the licking. She gets to go back to the vet in a couple days to make sure it's healing properly. So, has anyone else experienced this with their doodle? If so, do these continually occur or should this be a one time deal? Any advice or information regarding cysts common to poodles would be greatly appreciated.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They are called "interdigital furuncles", also often called "interidigital cysts". Here is an article with information. This article says they are common in Labrador Retirevers, it doesn't mention poodles. It is more common in dogs with webbed feet, though. I have not heard of this before, and I am pretty familiar with the various ailments of poodles. I'll do some more research. I'm sorry Whopper is going through this.
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/grooming/intercysts.htm
Vet Merck Manual:
http://www.vetmanual.org/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/70800.htm

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Thanks for the information. It is interesting that it doesn't list poodles. Whopper is also an f1 goldendoodle so she doesn't fall into the lab category either. Hopefully if we just keep the fur on her paws shorter (we love the shaggy look but we'll have to sacrifice that) and treat this fully we might be able to prevent any future occurences to this extent.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It sounds to me, though I am not a vet, that a oral antibiotic may also be needed since a topical treatment will probably not penetrate the tissues and these are furuncles, which are boils. Even though they have ruptured there may well be deeper infection and since there are reactions, i.e. granulomatous changes, in these lesions the infection is harder for the antibiotic to penetrate.

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Thanks for the input. She was started on an oral antibiotic on monday when the vet thought it was a paw pad issue. She was given a ten day antibiotic to take twice a day and the vet today said that may need to be extended even longer.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This condition also seems to be associated with pododermatitis, which does affect Golden Retrievers. It is interestingly alos associated with atopy, which is the inhalant allergy Jack has. More info:
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:aqozXOacqeEJ:72.47.214.95/%3Fp%...

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

More interesting information...thanks!

[clancy's mom]

Karen, what is "salivary staining" referred to in that article?

[Adina P]

I think it means the reddish/brown coloring that you see on dogs with light paws after they repeatedly lick their paws. So it's staining from saliva essentially.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The technical name for that reddish-brown staining on the feet is "erythema", and it occurs with dark-colored dogs, too. It's just not as easy to see. On reds or chocolates, it would be nearly impossible, but on blacks, you can see it if you look down into the tufts of fur between their pads.
That was the first indication my vet saw of Jack's allergies. It is never just their normal coloring. It is from saliva, but it usually extends to the skin beneath the fur, as well. When it's the fur around the mouth, it can be just normal saliva stains, but on the feet, it usually indicates a problem.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Erythema is really redness of the skin caused by inflammation, irritation, infection, etc. It really doesn't refer to staining of the fur.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, I wasn't very clear about that. Thanks for the clarification. I was referring to the fact that when they lick the feet to the point of discoloring the fur, it's usually a disease issue, and the skin underneath will be reddish, too. That's the erythema.

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Thanks. This morning she barked to go out for the first time in a week so she's slowly on the mend. She's also not limping to the extent that she was so as long as we can keep it clean and prevent infection with all of this nasty weather we have, she should be back in action in a couple of weeks. We are keeping her out of the parks and from any real romping until we are 100% sure this is resolved.