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My dog's paw cut isn't healing. Does it need antibiotics or topical care?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | 149 lbs

My dog has a cut on his paw from a few weeks ago. It’s slow healing, but recently became more inflamed and warm to the touch. Does he need antibiotics? Or is topical, over the counter care enough?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Amber Da Silva, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 16th, 2017

The toe does look very inflamed and swollen and it might be getting infected which would warrant oral antibiotics. You could also try to soak the foot in a dilute betadine solution (use warm water and dilute to the color of weak tea). Dry it thoroughly, then place triple antibiotic ointment on the wound and then bandage it. You should do this twice daily. If the wound isn't improving, you will most likely need to take Jimmy to the vet for further care and medications.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 15th, 2017
A lump such as this could be many things, including an interdigital cyst, an abscess, a foreign body reaction, or a tumor (some tumors are benign and nothing to worry about and others are more aggressive and require removal). I would recommend having your vet examine the area. They may recommend a needle aspirate (involves inserting a small needle into the swelling) to help determine what is causing the swelling and how best to treat the area.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 4th, 2017
It sounds like your dog may be in need of antibiotics if this wound is still not healing after a week and is getting more swollen. Other possibilities would include a foreign object like a splinter or grass awn buried in the wound and preventing the area from healing, or an interdigital cyst. A vet exam is needed to examine the area more fully and determine the best treatment.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 24th, 2018
Your dog may have an underlying allergy that causes him to lick and chew at the feet which in turn causes infection. I would recommend talking with your vet about an allergy medication like Cytopoint or Apoquel to help keep the allergy under control. Your dog will need this along with medication (probably antibiotics) to get the infection under control.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My dog's infected paw is worsening on antibiotics. How soon?

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Archie seems to have a case of pododermatitis, an inflammatory condition sometimes associated with allergies. It may, indeed take a few days for the antibiotics to kick in. Hopefully, he is on an oral antibiotic, but I will also recommend a topical one, as well. This would involve bandaging up the foot so the antibiotic does its job. You can talk to your vet about some pain medication too. In the meantime, soak the foot in warm water & dilute betadine or 2% chlorhexidine. 1/4 cup of the solution in a cup of water should do it. Try to soak the paw for 5-10 minutes 3 times a day, rinse & dry the foot. This will help in the healing process. Hope Archie is doing better soon. Take care.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's paw cut is bleeding after Neosporin. Should I see a vet?

These type of injuries are often due to a puncture between the toes. Sometimes the thing that punctures the toes stays under the skin. This commonly happens with thorns and grass awns. In both cases, an infection develops under the skin and will not heal until the source of infection is removed. Lioh's injury does appear to be infected from what I can see in the photos and it will be best to take him to the vet for treatment. For now, you can try doing a twice daily foot bath with Epsom salts to help decrease the swelling and help treat the infection. Just make sure that he doesn't drink the Epsom salt water, or it will make him sick. I hope that helps and Lioh gets better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Dog's dew claw infected, not healing. Should I get a second opinion?

Poor Panda! I would expect to see some improvement in his toe within 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment, and it is concerning that his infection is still bad. You can talk with the vet about giving it a few more days, but the concern is the infection can spread. Other options besides removing the toe include culturing the area to get the exact bacteria causing his infection and then using antibiotics that kill that bacteria in the hopes getting rid of the infection, or taking him into another vet today for a second opinion. You can speak to the vet about doing a culture on his infected toe, but it may be in the end that removing the toe is best. I'm sorry I can't give you an exact answer, but I hope this was helpful!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's paw has a wound, matted fur, and looks swollen. What's wrong?

This sounds like an infected interdigital cyst. These are common in dog’s paws. They usually need oral antibiotics to heal these infections, so I would take her in to your veterinarian for an exam and treatment. In the meantime you can soak the paw in an antibacterial solution, and use a cone to prevent her from licking the paw. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Toffee.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's paw wound is still raw and not healing. Vet visit needed?

If you haven't been back to the vet since starting antibiotics, I'd recommend going back so they can see how it looks now. You definitely need a vet visit before finishing the antibiotics, since it's not looking healed up. It's possible the wound needs different bandaging methods, different antibiotics, or even surgery to help heal. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has swollen, infected paws. Why aren't antibiotics working?

A skin biopsy and bacterial culture swab must be taken to define underlying cause specifically and decide appropriate treatment. This presentation may be caused by a resistant bacteria (so a different antibiotic will be needed) or an autoimmune disorder (so a different treatment will be given). 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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog cut his paw 5 days ago. Does he need a vet or will it heal?

Paw pad injuries should heal pretty quickly if they are going to heal at home. You can use sharp scissors and remove that flap of skin (but don't cut super close to the edge of the paw). Most of the time, this flap of skin will be like a cuticle on your finger so it doesn't cause pain to remove it. If it seems painful, don't cut it. After 5 days, the tissue underneath the flap should be looking more like the exterior paw pad. It should be darkening in color and not looking raw. If this is occurring, that's a good sign and Hercules seems to be healing it on his own. You can stop bandaging it. Continue to antibiotics for a full 10 days or until the wound is fully healed. You must prevent all licking and he should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. You must also prevent all trauma so no walks, running or jumping until the paw is fully healed. The paw shoudl be completely healed within 10-14 days from the time of the cut. If the paw still looks raw, has any discharge, pain or swelling at this time, Hercules needs to be examined by the veterinarian as this is abnormal and not expected. If at any point the cut shows any of these symptoms, he should be examined. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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