Why is my dog limping, losing hair, and licking her sore paws?

I am sorry to hear about Zoey. This could be an small tumor (luckily not all tumors are malignant and aggressive so we can have slower growing tumors as well) , an abscess, or a foreign body. I would recommend bringing Zoey to her vet to have the area examined. She may need to have it removed, explored, or may need an antibiotic if infection is suspected.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, it sounds as though Sweety may have a leg injury. The brown discoloration on her fur may be from her chewing / licking at the leg. If this is not going away or worsens, 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.

I am very sorry to hear that Gab is having trouble with her leg and limping, I am sure it is worrying for you both. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why a dog may limp, ranging from injury, infection, osteoarthritis, disorders of the growing bones or joints, and even some cancers. She may be licking at the paw because it hurts, or there is something inside of it such as a migrating grass seed. Signs of infection in a paw would include redness, swelling, and discharge. Gab would also likely have a fever. Here is an article to help you check if she has a fever; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever In order to determine the precise cause of Gab's limb pain it would be best to take her in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Gab comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Gab seems very uncomfortable or depressed, you suspect a broken bone, the limb is dangling at an unnatural angle, a limb is being dragged, severe swelling is occurring, the limb is hot, bone is piercing the skin, or nonstop bleeding is occurring, Gab needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If none of the above are occurring, and due to the high frequency of injury or trauma cases in limping dogs, you can try conservative management at home for 24 hours to see if Gab improves. Keep Gab as comfortable as possible, and strict rest with as little movement as can be managed When moving handle with care Do not give Gab any medications without a veterinarian’s approval Apply a cold compress for first 24 hours Switch to a warm compress after 24 hours If pain or limping continues after 24 hours then take Gab to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Gab feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

The area looks like it is quite inflamed, and the skin looks quite thickened, which might mean this has been a problem for a while, even before Dodger started losing his hair. It sounds like he is in pain, so you are right to be concerned. I recommend taking Dodger to the vet. Skin lesions can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above.The vet will likely want to look at a sample from the area under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and to figure out what medication is appropriate for treatment. I hope Dodger feels better soon!

Pets can lick a specific area due to a few reasons. Sometimes an area on a lower leg can be related to anxiety, skin mites, pain in the leg, nerve tingling, or a an abrasion which she is now licking. For cases like this, I recommend to have Diamond visit her veterinarian to looks for any evidence of pain or mites. If the doctor is more suspicious of an anxiety or nerve tingling, there are medications that may help. You do need to try to stop her from licking the leg. An Elizabethan collar worn any time she is not being directly supervised can help. It may not change the situation but an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs can decrease inflammation and improve skin health. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry to hear that Zoe is having skin problems! There are a few different things that could cause itching and hair loss with dandruff in a puppy this age. The most common possibilities would be allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), fleas, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so I would recommend having her examined by a vet as soon as you are able to. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it.

Common causes include foreign body (splinter), injury, infection (bacterial or fungal) and allergies. Place an e-collar (cone) on Macy to prevent further licking or chewing. Have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. If the skin is broken, she is at risk for infection and may require antibiotics.