Something's Afoot

Pretty gross, huh? Bailey had a similar growth removed from the same spot between 2 of her toes a couple of years ago. The histopathology (where a pathologist looks at the mass on a cellular level to try to find out what it is) had indicated that it was 'Interdigital Furunculosis'. This can be caused by an ingrown hair, allergies, or other foreign bodies, leading to secondary bacterial infections and chronic irritation of the surrounding tissue. Unfortunately, Bailey didn't respond to medical therapy for the problem when it occurred a second time (long term antibiotics, soaking the foot...) and the mass had been allowed to get so big that removing it was going to be a challenge.

Bailey had become obsessive about licking this part of her foot, even after the initial surgery. If she continued to lick the area between her toes after the second surgery, the problem could very well recur. That and because there wasn't going to be a lot of extra skin to close the wound I decided to try a procedure called a 'fusion podoplasty', a fusing together of the toes.

The procedure when really well. The before and after pictures are above. I've sent the mass off to the lab to make sure we're not dealing with a new beastie. Bailey has to wear a splint on that foot for a few weeks to allow it to heal without any pressure being put on it. I'll try to post a pic again once her sutures are removed and everything's healed. I'm crossing fingers that we won't have the problem return.