Why is my cat licking his paw and something is stuck? Is he hurt?

He may have an injury to his paw, his claw may have grown around and into his pad, he may have a recurring soreness due to an old injury. If he will let you, examine his foot and toes for any swelling, overgrown claws, discoloration and/or discharge. If you find anything abnormal, or if he won't allow you to look, get him to see your vet for an exam. Ask why this keeps recurring. If his claws are overgrown, you will need to have them clipped once a month. Your vet can show you how to do this or they can do it for you as needed.

If it currently bleeding you can use some corn starch to help slow the bleeding. Also if you are able to place a light bandage on it to prevent him from licking it tonight that would be good. You can also use a cone collar which you can find at your local pet store if it is still open. I would take him to your vet first thing in the morning for an exam. He may need to have it cleaned, medicated and professionally wrapped. Your vet will also be able to provide antibiotics and pain meds if need. If it is profusely bleeding then I would take him to your local emergency clinic for attention tonight. I hope this helps!

Oh goodness, that looks like a deep infection. It could be bacterial or fungal, but I suspect more likely bacterial. He needs to see a veterinarian for an examination and treatment plan. However, in the meantime if he will allow you to soak his foot in warm water and Epsom salts that may be soothing and beneficial. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. It sounds as though Bella may have injured her paw on something. This something may have punctured her paw and left remnants behind or it penetrated the Paw without leaving anything in the paw. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It's hard to tell from the pictures exactly where the wound is and if it involves the claw itself. I would soak her paw in warm water (you can use a little epsom salts if you have it) to loosen the scab, then you can gently clean it with a warm wet washcloth. If you find that there is bleeding, then apply gently pressure for 15 minutes. Don't apply any topical medications as Luna will just lick them off. If the bleeding continues, or of the paw swells, or if there is a creamy or foul discharge, then she may need to go to the vet for examination and antibiotics.

Poor guy. It seems he likely injured the paw again. If it hurts this bad, then I worry about a fracture as well. I would recommend not touching the area and getting him to your local vet as soon as you can. If you cannot tonight, then taking him to any vet that is open tomorrow morning (after hours clincis likely are) would be the best thing to do for Pooh Bear. You may want to investigate the home to hopefully find out where he is likely getting his injuries from. If he is an outdoor/indoor cat, then its best to have him neutered and/or kept indoors to help avoid further injuries. Intact male cats tend to pick more fights when they are outside, than neutered ones. I hope that your furry friend gets his injury resolved soon! Best wishes and take care.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If one of Noushmc's paws seem to be wounded, I would recommend she see her veterinarian soon to take a closer look at the paw so it can be evaluated properly. If the underlying tissue is exposed, the paw can become infected and the litter can potentially be problematic if the wound is large enough. You can try using 3% hydrogen peroxide instead of the vinegar and water until you are able to get her seen by her veterinarian. I hope this helps!