Treating Interdigital Cysts at Home
Image of a common interdigital cyst between the toes of a Bulldog. Image courtesy Bizkai Bulldogs
This has not been our week(s) when it comes to healthy Frenchies. First Journey ruptures an anal gland, then mystery chunks start falling out of Penelope, and now Elliott has an interdigital cyst.
For those who aren’t familiar with this particular bane of the French Bulldog and Bulldog owner, an interdigital cyst (their proper name is ‘Interdigital furuncle’) is an inflammation of the skin between the toes. The Merck Veterinary manual says –
The most common cause is a deep bacterial infection. Many dog breeds (eg, Shar-Pei, Labrador Retriever, English Bulldog) are predisposed to bacterial interdigital furunculosis because of the short bristly hairs located on the webbing between the toes, prominent interdigital webbing, or both. The short shafts of hairs are easily forced backward into the hair follicles during locomotion (traumatic implantation). Hair, ie, keratin, is very inflammatory in the skin, and secondary bacterial infections are common.