Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” series, where every Monday we bring expert advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers better understand their dog’s health and well-being.

Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned dog lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutrition tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral issues, Dr. Paola is ready to offer insights that will keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Stay tuned for expert guidance on a range of topics that matter most to you and your dog, so you can make informed decisions and provide the best possible care for your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Help! My Dog Has a Lump!

“My pitbull, Speedy, has a lump on her front foot. It’s missing hair around it, which is brownish red. She got a allergy shot last month, but it never went away. What could it be?? ” – Crystal

Hi Crystal,

I understand how concerning it is to find a persistent lump on your dog’s foot, especially when it has not improved after an allergy injection. A hairless, brownish-red lump in this location is often related to ongoing local inflammation rather than a simple allergy flare. In dogs, the paws are exposed to repeated pressure, moisture, and irritation. Common causes include interdigital furunculosis, which is an inflammatory condition of the hair follicles, lick-associated lesions driven by chronic irritation, or benign growths such as histiocytomas. Less commonly, but importantly, mast cell tumors and other skin neoplasms can also appear red, swollen, and resistant to anti-inflammatory treatments, which is why persistence matters clinically.

An allergy injection would reduce generalized allergic inflammation, but it would not resolve a localized lesion if infection, foreign material, or abnormal cell growth is present. When a lesion does not respond as expected, the next step is hands-on evaluation, often including cytology or biopsy, which is similar to checking the contents of a locked box rather than guessing what is inside. These tests are well established in veterinary dermatology and are essential for determining whether treatment should focus on infection control, behavioral modification, anti-inflammatory therapy, or surgical removal.

Because this involves a physical mass, Speedy should be examined by a veterinarian sooner rather than later, as prompt evaluation helps prevent discomfort and allows early intervention if the lesion is more serious. So please, don’t wait.

– Dr. Paola

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Help! Can I Re-Register a Microchip?

“Dear Dr. Paola,

I adopted a dog called Remi that had been micro-chipped. Can I register that chip with another company? “ – Jane

Hi Jane,

Yes, you can absolutely register Remi’s microchip with another company, and in fact, this is often encouraged after adoption. A microchip itself is like a permanent barcode implanted under the skin, but it does not store ownership information on its own. That information lives in external databases, and many chips can be listed in more than one registry at the same time. Updating or adding your details ensures that if Remi is ever lost and scanned, the contact trail leads back to you rather than stopping at a previous owner or shelter.

What matters most is that the microchip number is accurately linked to your current contact information in at least one well-maintained database, ideally more than one. Reputable registries allow you to add yourself as the primary contact even if the chip was originally registered elsewhere, and most do not require changing the chip itself. Your veterinarian or the adoption organization can scan Remi’s chip to confirm the number and help you verify where it is currently registered.
Once updated, I recommend keeping your contact details current and including both a phone number and email, since studies consistently show that up-to-date microchip registration significantly improves reunion rates. Taking this step now is a quiet but powerful way to protect Remi’s safety and give both of you peace of mind.

Best,

– Dr. Paola

Help! I Think My Dog Has Allergies!

“My retriever, Bixby, constantly licks and chews his paws. What is your opinion on purchasing a home allergy test for dogs? Will I receive accurate results that will enable me to eliminate allergens? ”  – Joel

Hi Joel,

When a retriever like Bixby persistently licks and chews his paws, it usually reflects an ongoing irritation in the skin rather than a simple bad habit. The paw is rich in nerve endings and constantly exposed to the environment, so even mild inflammation can feel like an itch that seems to demand attention. In veterinary dermatology, we refer to this as a sign of discomfort, and it often stems from underlying conditions such as atopic dermatitis, contact irritation, secondary bacterial or yeast overgrowth, or even localized injury. Understanding the root is essential because just addressing the surface appearance without knowing the underlying cause is like treating the smoke without finding the fire.

Home allergy tests marketed for dogs typically measure antibodies in saliva or fur to a wide panel of environmental and food allergens. While this sounds appealing, the scientific literature shows that these tests are not always reliable for diagnosing food or environmental allergies in dogs. Dogs with atopic dermatitis do not produce predictable patterns of circulating antibodies that correlate with clinical disease, and these home kits cannot distinguish between incidental exposure and clinically relevant sensitivity. Elimination diets conducted under veterinary guidance, followed by careful reintroduction of ingredients, remain the gold standard for identifying food-related triggers, just as intradermal skin testing performed by a dermatologist remains the most accurate method for environmental allergens when immunotherapy is being considered.

Before spending resources on an at-home kit that is unlikely to change management, I recommend that Bixby be evaluated in person to identify the type and pattern of irritation, to collect appropriate samples if needed, and to begin a structured approach such as a therapeutic trial diet or targeted skin care protocol. This clinical pathway gives you information that can be acted upon meaningfully, rather than results that may look scientific but do not reliably guide therapy. I hope this makes sense.

– Dr. Paola