lump and chewing paws;chocolate lab

Question
my dog max just turned 7 years and i have noticed that he has a lump on the center of his back leg on the left side. its rather large size of a raspberry and looks like a raspberry too. there is a bunch of little lumps on top of a big lump. there is one red lump and it pusses once a day. it is very noticeable.
he also has a problem chewing his paws. his paws are very sensitive and does not allow me to touch his paws. his paws are very raw and bleed allot often.
what should i do?

Answer
I am sure you already knew you could take him to the vet.  That is your best option. The vet may or may not want to remove the lump.  Sometimes they just say watch it for changes.  the vet may or may not have much help for the paws.  It could be an allergy, or just nervous energy.  If the latter, just enriching his life might help, obedience training, agility, free form dancing, fly ball, etc.  Perhaps just more walks.  If he spends all day at home by himself, doggy day care might not leave him time to chew his paws.  I would rather see trying to enrich his life rather than drugs from the vet.