My dog's paw is red, swollen, and she keeps licking it. Is it urgent?

Poor Georgia! There are a number of things that could cause a red, swollen area like this on her paw. This could be a localized infection or inflammatory reaction of some kind, such as from an insect bite or sting. It could also be a skin growth or tumor, either benign or malignant (cancerous). I would recommend having this checked by a vet within the next few days, if you are able to. He/she can do a simple test called a fine needle aspirate to help determine what this lump is. Based on the results, the vet can advise you on whether Georgia needs to be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, or whether the lump needs to be surgically removed.

Ouch, poor Issac! It looks like that could potentially be a growth of some sorts, but without seeing him in person I can't say for certain. He should see a vet for it. The vet can diagnose what is causing it and how best to treat it. In the meantime, to keep him from licking at it, I would put an Ecollar on him. You can buy one at a pet store or you can make one at home. I will put a link below on how to make one at home. As for the vet, I would see if you can get him into one Monday or Tuesday. Good luck, I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

This does look a bit infected and the swelling and redness support this. I suggst you keep her from licking her foot (put an e-collar on her) and pay your veterinarian a visit for an exam and wound care.

That may be an infection. It's clearly bothering your dog because she is licking it. I would take her into a vet in the morning to have this diagnosed and treated. Tonight, put an Ecollar on her to keep her from licking it. You can make one at home. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Lucky has been having such issues with his toe. I do think he needs to have the area evaluated by a veterinarian; if he is acting normally, eating, and does not appear to be feeling badly, I would alternate icing and warm compressing the area and keep him from licking it by putting a cone collar on it until he can be seen. The most important thing to do is to keep him from continuing to lick and irritate the area. Good luck!

A swollen area could indicate an abscess, a grass seed trapped under the skin or a skin cancer. Your pet needs to be examined by the veterinarian for appropriate treatment, he needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times to prevent further licking and you need to stop all walks, running and jumping. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like you indicated, this could be due to a foreign body getting stuck in the digit though other things like a deep infection or even a growth cannot be ruled out. It could even be secondary to her licking at it. For this reason, it is important to rule those out. I recommend a visit to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!