Dog's paw infected after nail removal. Does he need an emergency vet?

This presentation could be due to a trauma (foreign body lesion/abscess) or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can 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. This is not an emergency but needs to be seen as soon as your vet is open during normal hours. 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.

Vets are still seeing pets for serious issues or medical emergencies, so it is a good idea to contact yours to see if you can get Gabber in for care and started on some antibiotics as needed. Until you can, keeping the wounds clean and dry and trimming back the fur and using an antiseptic such as a chlorhexidine or antiseptic cleaner can help reduce debris in the wound. You will also want to put an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Gabber to keep him from licking his paws to help reduce irritation and inflammation.

Wow this sounds awful! She needs to see a vet right away when you can get this done.. In the meantime, if she will let you try to soak the paws in a warm water/epsom salt solution several times a day, and then wrap them so she doesn't lick. Use 1-2 tbsp of epsom salt per 4-5 cups of warm water. Good luck!

Unfortunately, just as in humans diabetic patients can be subject to increased risk of blood flow issues to the extremities and frequency of infection. I can't tell whether or not it will require amputation from the picture, but the swelling can be managed with some icing. I can't recommend other meds or topicals based on this image. Use a cone to prevent any possible self inflicted harm until morning. If the swelling is getting progressive worse quickly during the night, if your dog is feverish or acting like it, or if there is uncontrolled pain, seek emergency care tonight.

It's not an emergency, you can take him first thing in the morning. for the future i would recommend to take him to the vet when something like this happens as it tend to be painful and to get infected.

Poor Gizmo! That looks really sore. The lesion in the picture could be an abscess, a very large interdigital cyst or a tumor. I would recommend that you have Gizmo seen by your veterinarian. They may recommend a fine needle aspirate of the lesion to get a better idea of what is causing the swelling. Surgery may be required to lance and drain the abscess or remove a mass if present.

Swelling, pain/discomfort and itch, redness, discharge of the area involved are all possible signs. From what you described it may be possible that the nail bed is infected or there may even be a comminute fracture of the last phalanx. A check up is unfortunately needed to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.