Our ten year old white maltese/poodle cross started licking his left rear paw a lot about a week ago, right after he was groomed. We had a look and his fur was a bit blood stained but didn't see anything else. We concluded the groomers must have nicked him slightly and resolved to watch it.
He stopped doing it so much. Then a couple of days ago he started again and we noticed he was limping for a few steps when he first got up. After that he walks ok.
We had another look and now see a strange growth on the pad belonging to his outside toe. It looks like the eraser (rubber) on the top of a pencil but smaller diameter. Very symmetrical. It is clearly bugging him. It is dark grey on top and a bit reddish below. He wants to lick it.
It is a holiday weekend here and the vet is closed until Monday. This doesn't seem to warrant a trip across the City to the emergency vet but I will call first thing Tuesday.
I am freaking out and goggling melanoma. This has come up so quickly it is scary.
This is him the day of his grooming. Funnily enough he almost never has accidents but last night he left two little packages in very discrete areas of the apartment.
Anyone have any experience with something like this? I know this is the internet and it will need a biopsy I expect but between no sleep last night due to reacting (mildly) to my third covid vaccine and worry about my sweet boy I am hoping for some small measure of reassurance or maybe a handhold.