Why are my dog's paws bumpy from licking and ears crusty in winter?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

This looks like a hot spot on Lucky's leg. This usually occurs from excessive licking of the area and an infection that is present in the skin. Lucky will need antibiotics to help clear up the infection. He may also need some allergy medication to prevent the area from coming back. The bumps behind the ears are probably due to allergies as well. I would recommend a trip to your vet to get some antibiotics for the leg and possibly some allergy medication if indicated. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. The ear could have a small mass that has now become infected. The leg appears to have an elbow callus. Her veterinarian will determine if this is the case. If a mass is present on the ear, it may require surgical removal. If it is a wound, then antibiotics could be needed. If the limb has a callus, treatment is generally not required. I hope this information helps!

It looks like a hot spot, it's usually caused by an allergy or fleas causing itchiness and then the dog licks the area and causes it himself. i would recommend taking him to your vet in order to get it checked and treated.

This presentation could be due to a localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). This type of skin infection is commonly called hot spot. A check up, appropriate disinfection and antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I would be concerned that these bumps could indicate an infection like ringworm but a bacterial infection, mange, an allergic reaction and even certain types of skin cancer can looks like this. Because some of those causes can be infectious to humans I recommend your veterinarian examine Sandie and potentially do further testing such as a culture or biopsy to see for sure what is going on with her skin.

Swelling could be secondary to the licking or the cause for the licking. I would recommend you have your vet check it out. Allergies are probably the most common cause of licking the feet, but it can also be caused by fleas, bacterial or yeast infection pain in the foot or joint, a sticker or something under the skin, etc. After an exam, the vet may do a cytology or x-rays to see what is going on. Until Justice sees the vet, you may want to prevent licking by using an e-collar, since licking it may cause damage and infection in the skin.