My dog's paw is swollen between toes from licking. What can I do?

Hello! I'm sorry to see that your dog is having some trouble with her foot. It appears to moist and irritated between the toes, and there is also some swelling around the nail beds of two of her nails. I am very concerned that this may be a skin infection, and possibly also a nail bed infection (which can sometimes be tricky to treat because of how deep the nail goes into the toe). I do not recommend continuing the Zymox spray without the advice of a veterinarian, as it contains hydrocortisone (a steroid). Steroids will decrease inflammation, but they also suppress the immune system. I strongly suggest that you bring your dog to visit the vet as he or she may require antibiotics and/or antifungals to treat any potential infection she has. In the meantime, you can try soaking her foot in cool, mildly soapy water, followed by thorough drying. If your dog is licking the foot, I recommend placing an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) on his or her neck to prevent further licking, which can exacerbate inflammation and contamination with bacteria and yeast. At the vet's office, they will perform a physical exam, and most likely they will take a sample of skin cells and discharge from between those toes and around the nail bed for examination under a microscope. This will help them determine what treatment will work best. They may also give your dog some pain relievers or anti-inflammatories so that he or she is more comfortable. Good luck, and I hope that your dog feels better soon!

Thank you for the picture of Jameson's toe, it's very helpful. It looks quite red and swollen in the picture. There are a number of things that could cause this, such as a foreign body like a foxtail, an infection, an injury, or even a cancerous growth. He's licking it a lot and favoring it because it's painful to him. Unfortunately there are no OTC pain relievers you can give him, as many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. He needs to see a vet to have this diagnosed and treated, and I would give his vet a call now to get him an appointment. It would be best for him to see his vet asap. I would also put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking it, you can buy one at a pet store if you don't have one at home already. I hope this helps!

Swelling could be secondary to the licking or the cause for the licking. I would recommend you have your vet check it out. Allergies are probably the most common cause of licking the feet, but it can also be caused by fleas, bacterial or yeast infection pain in the foot or joint, a sticker or something under the skin, etc. After an exam, the vet may do a cytology or x-rays to see what is going on. Until Justice sees the vet, you may want to prevent licking by using an e-collar, since licking it may cause damage and infection in the skin.

Yes, I would get a cone. Be sure that the cone extends past the end of his nose or he will still be able to lick. This could be a serious problem. Bumps between the toes can be anything from a cyst, to a tumor to an abscess. You can keep soaking it with Epsom salts. You can apply the aloe but it's not likely to help; Neosporin would be better. I suggest you don't wrap it. If you bandage it too tight or incorrectly then you can cause more damage. If after 4-5 days he is not better you need to get him to the vet for an exam.

This may be just irritation from licking or chewing the paw. However I cannot rule out a small toe tumor/mass. You can try soaking the foot and see if that helps. If the lesion persists then I would recommend having it checked out because if it is a mass it will need to be removed soon.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sunny may be licking his paw due to trauma or a wound that is painful - dogs can sometimes have pieces of grass or small twigs stuck between the toes. Infections or allergic reactions can also occur on the feet, either to a cleaning agent or certain foods. I recommend having Sunny seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine exactly what is going on, especially because he seems uncomfortable. His vet may recommend topical or oral antibiotics, foot soaks, or a diet change. I hope all is well!

I'm sorry to hear that Lucifer's paws are so swollen and bloody. Inflammation between the toes or paw pads can be due to a number of issues, including severe allergies, autoimmune conditions, bacterial and/or yeast infections, or abscesses from penetrating wounds. Regardless, swelling of the paws is quite uncomfortable. At this point, your best option is to take Lucifer to his vet for an exam. After an exam, your vet will likely recommend either some diagnostic testing or presumptive treatment with medications, depending on the underlying cause of this issue. Until your appointment, be sure to put an e-collar (cone) on Lucifer to prevent him from licking at his feet, as that will only make matters worse. I hope that he's on the mend soon!