Anyone identify this sore on top of dog's paw? (Warning - a bit gross)

[helpyhelperton]

I noticed her furiously licking it whilst standing last night - she is a terrible licker of paws normally but only usually when lying down - like a pastime.

I've had a jolly good look this morning and seen the sore. I called the vets, they just said to cool-boil water clean it and try to stop her licking. I trimmed the hair around it to help keep it clean and dry. Vet said to call back Monday if worse.

Any ideas what it could actually be?

Here's another picture for scale

Is it raised? My old fella used to get hot spots or pyotraumatic dermatitis, I used to trim the fur back to leave a clear margin then get him to the vets.

Perhaps a seed that has worked its way in but is now beginning to exit?

We need a specialist Sporner Corner for pets.

Has his claw come out?

Looks like possibly a foreign body entry/ exit point. Like a PP said grass seeds can pierce the skin and enter the body. They can then migrate around the body in some cases. I’ve seen this happen with a cocker spaniel and he needed surgery and scoping to find and remove it.

Hopefully it’s come out if it was a foreign body but either way it looks sore - keep a close eye on it, bathe with salt water, use an buster collar to prevent licking and if not better take to the vet - it may need antibiotics or further investigation.

Grass seed I reckon. You should be able to squeeze it out but I’m always too worried about doing it to my dog.

Grass seed I suspect, one of our dogs was very prone to them because she had hairy feet.
I used to take her to the vet to make sure that the seed had exited ( they can work their way up the leg before exiting), cone of shame to stop her licking/chewing it and antibiotics.
I used to try a keep her feet well trimmed, it seemed to happen less in shorthaired dogs.

Just stop the dog licking it by wearing the cone around its head.

Oh blimey - we've got to go ripe
Old age of 11 and never had grass seed problem before.

Is it a dart-type thing? We usually see them on her and pick them off - she's VERY fussy and can't stand stuff stuck to her.

If it is that - what do I do? It's raised around the crater - is this also a sign?

Vet nurse here ,looks like a stereotypical grass seed/foreign body - needs vet ideally as can form a tract and travel upwards causing a bigger problem to fix in the long term.
Another possibility is an interdigital cyst, either way very sore.
If you are very lucky sometimes a seed will pop out with a squeeze but more often they need an incision to investigate.

Do I need to get her there urgently - or can it wait will Monday?

Sorry that was to you, thank you for your reply - I've just called emergency number and waiting for call back

My spaniel gets a seed in his paws at least once a year if not more. Our go to now is putting sudocrem overnight, then covering with a sock and crepe bandage so he can't get at the cream. Nearly always draws the seed out.

I do always go to the vets however for them to check he doesn't need antibiotics.

Hi ,i don't think you need an emergency appointment tonight but i would definitely cover the foot with a cotton sock until you do see a vet , pull the sock up put something like micro pore tape around the sock to hold it in place then fold the top of the sock over.
Before this if you can bathe it with salt water it may soothe it ,also clip hair short if you can but don't bother her if she's too sore.
If you don't cover it she will constantly lick it ,if you are seeing a vet tomorrow dont feed her after 8.30 ish tonight then no food in the morning in preparation of sedation etc , but don't be surprised if vet books procedure in for monday .
We are just at the end of grass seed season ,in future every time she comes in from a walk check between her toes and keep the fur on her feet short , you can sometimes find a seed before it penetrates the 'webbing' area in her toes .

Looks like an interdigital yet to me

Interdigital cyst, sorry

Did you find out what it was?