Interdigital cysts (furuncles) are painful inflamed lesions between dog toes that recur without addressing underlying causes including allergies, foreign bodies, and conformation in predisposed breeds.
Dogs with interdigital cysts experience significant pain with every step on affected paws, yet the lesions are often attributed to non-specific lameness or dismissed as minor skin issues. Compulsive licking of paw lesions indicates the degree of discomfort and further traumatizes affected tissue. The recurrent nature without underlying cause identification means many dogs live with repeated painful episodes over years. Dermatology consultation to identify and manage underlying allergies dramatically reduces the frequency of recurrence and associated suffering.