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My dog is limping and yelping from paw pain. What home remedies help?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Airedale Terrier | Male | neutered | 2 years and 8 months old | 85 lbs

My dog is limping and yelp any time his paw touches the ground. He went on a romp in the country and was covered in burs. Im pretty sure this is the cause but I cant feel anything but a bump that feels like skin. I winces even if i barely touch his paw. My vet is full and right now and he falls before he puts weight on his leg. He is 85 lbs and i cant carry him to go outside. Is there any thing i can do to try to remedy at home.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 3rd, 2018

You can try and bathe his foot in very warm epsom salt solution for ten minutes at a time three times daily, as it may help for a foreign body to come out, if there is one in the paw. You need to check between the toes and pads for a thorn, stone, or any injury. If you can, palpate the toes to check for pain, which would signal either a sprain or fracture. This could also be caused by a snake bite or bite of another animal and now it may be infected. This is about all you can do until you get an appointment with a veterinarian (any vet!). You will need to get help to get him outside and into the car. If this is so bad that your dog is falling, then he should be seen right away by a vet.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Shaneez Wallani, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 25th, 2019
Limping can be an indication of pain, so please make an appointment to have Bear seen by a veterinarian. Causes of the limping could be trauma, a muscular or nerve injury, a fractured bone, an injured or overgrown toenail, a tumour/mass, or a foreign body embedded in the paw or leg. Some infectious diseases such as Lyme disease and joint diseases such as arthritis or joint infection can cause limping as well. The blood makes me think that there may be something stuck in the paw or that a toenail may be injured. Take him out only for short walks on a leash just to pee and poo. In the meantime, don't let him run around or jump. If Bear is crate trained, keep him crated to prevent him from jumping or running. If he's not crate trained, keep him in a small area where he can't run or jump onto/ off of furniture. If he will let you, you can try soaking the paw in a small container with warm water and hypoallergenic shampoo for dogs to clean away any debris, followed by rinsing in warm water. If he struggles when you try this then stop, as you don't want him to hurt himself more.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog is limping and has a swollen paw. What can I do at home?

Inspect her paw for thorns or other foreign bodies, You can also bathe/soak the paw in some warm epsom salt bath, If the swelling does not go down within 48 hrs you need to take her to a vet for an exam. There may be infection and she might need prescription antibiotics.

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My dog's paw pad is cut, red, raw, and limping. What home care?

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My dog is limping and yelping with pus between paw pads. What's wrong?

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My dog injured her paw and is limping. How can I ease her pain?

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My dog is limping and has arm pain. What can I do without a vet?

Poor girl. Unfortunately there isn't much you can do for a musculoskeletal injury. Over the counter pain meds shouldn't be given to pets b/c of a high risk of liver and/or kidney damage. You can try doing alternating cold and warm compresses on the sore area for 5-10 minutes a day. Also a warm water Epsom salt bath can help with some of the soreness. If she just has a minor injur like a muscle sprain, then letting her rest the leg and the cold and warm compresses should help improve her limping over the next 4-5 days. Also leash walking her only outside and not encouraging jumping and rough play can help the area heal. Here is a website link that also has some financial resources that may be of assistance for getting Princess seen by your vet. It sounds like she may need a radiograph of the leg and appropriate treatment depending on the underlying injury if things don't get better soon. http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html Best wishes and take care.

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