My dog licks paw meds. How to apply and is it safe if she licks?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Vaseline is safe to use but if you want something more natural then the ResQ skin treatment is all natural and would be fine to use to apply to the paw pads until resolved. If the paw pads begin to look swollen or show any signs of infection (pus, etc.) then I would recommend having Snowball examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I actually would not recommend putting anything topical on it if he can potentially lick it off. Neosporin is not particularly toxic if a small amount is ingested but it won't have a chance to work if your dog is licking. I'd recommend putting an e-collar on him to keep him from licking. If there is a raw spot or other skin lesion it would be a good idea to have your vet take a look - he might need oral medications for it to resolve. I doubt he would need anesthesia unless there is a skin growth that is there.

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 her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. A chlorhexidine based shampoo is usually good for these general infections. Also, douxo chlorhexidine pads can be used for the infectious component. 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!

If she is licking at the paw, it most likely is painful. Dogs tend to lick areas in order to sooth the pain. They also do this in an attempt to reduce inflammation, but ultimately it results in the exact opposite. Unfortunately from the picture, I can't get a perfect idea of what's going on and I don't know exactly how / what type of injury occurred. Thus, I don't whether or not you should be seeking medical attention for Coco. Assuming the injury isn't serious, the most important thing you can do is prevent further self-inflicted harm while still allowing the area that is affect to be open and clean. In order to do this, Coco will need to wear a cone. You can obtain one at some pet stores, online, or at a vet office without an appointment. Healing might go faster if you went to the vet to obtain some anti-inflammatory medication, and so he can assess the need to potentially add antibiotics. Be sure to keep the area covered with a plastic bag or sock when Coco is going outside to walk in areas that are dirty. Any open areas on the foot exposed to dirty areas are likely to result in a worsened or delayed healing. Hope this makes sense.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, I can’t give great advice because I don’t know the underlying cause. If it is allergies, she will need to get on some allergy medication. If it is related to arthritis pain, then obviously she will need pain medication to stop the licking. If it is anxiety related, then anxiety medication is needed. The vomiting is concerning and may or may not be related to the licking. Long story short, I’d recommend taking Dahlia in to vet to help determine the underlying cause and get started on the right treatment. In the mean time, you can apply a 1% hydrocortisone cream as long as you also have Dahlia wear an E-collar at all times. Best wishes to you and Dahlia.

I don't recommend it. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, dogs lick and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed.

Most pet wipes are safe to use as are plain, unscented baby wipes. You can also use diluted chlorhexidine as a foot soak. Dry the feet thoroughly afterwards. Licking of the feet can be a symptom of allergies, so if it persists or worsens have Dahlia examined by your veterinarian. Discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials and antihistamine use during the visit.