My dog's paw is swollen and blistered. Will it heal on its own?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and best wishes!

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that VooDoo has a bum foot. Irritation and infection from licking can very well cause swelling and irritation like this, and KetoHex alone probably won't be enough to get the swelling down if he's still able to lick it. I highly recommend that you put an e-collar (also known as a cone) on VooDoo so that he can't get to the paw. I know it's rough on them, but they don't know not to lick, and he'll just wind up making his paw worse and worse. That being said, if the swelling doesn't go down after he hasn't been able to lick it for a while, I suggest re-visiting the vet to see if there could be anything stuck in the skin of his paw, like a tiny thorn. I have seen swelling like this caused by a foreign object in the past, and sometimes they can be very hard to see. The vet may also be able to prescribe some anti-inflammatories that will help with the swelling and pain (do not give anything over-the-counter as they could be dangerous to VooDoo). It is also possible that the swelling is being caused by a tumor, but considering VooDoo's age, I highly doubt that this is the case. Good luck, and I hope that VooDoo's foot feels better soon!

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.

Ouch! That should likely be checked out by your vet in person. Tumors on the toes can aggressively appear and spread like this, and other issues such as burns, blisters, cysts, sores, infections, etc should be treated by your vet. They can take a sample of the affected tissue to look for the cause behind it, and provide treatment options such as removal, antibiotics, medicate shampoos, and more. Until you can get to your vet, it's best to keep the area clean and dry and to keep Bossy from licking at it with an Elizabethan (cone) collar. This can help reduce irritation.

Hello. I really do not think this is something that you can fix by yourself. From your pictures, it looks like a tumor of some kind so it should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as you do so. In the meantime, you could just keep the area clean using a product called Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ), but I would have Chloe's foot looked at to determine the cause of the lesion. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

She may have seasonal allergies or could be getting some foreign material caught between her toes when she goes out in nicer weather. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent further licking or chewing. Have her examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying cause. Antibiotics can help with infection, antihistamines may decrease allergies and pain medication may provide additional relief. Continue the foot soaks if they help.

Ouch! Chopper's paw looks quite inflamed and uncomfortable! Some of the more common causes of swelling between the toes are related to contact allergies, ingrown or infected hair follicles, or immune system disorders. Peroxide can be beneficial to clean out an open wound once, but can actually delay tissue healing if it is used repeatedly. In the future, I would avoid using peroxide. Due to this degree of swelling and discomfort, Chopper should be examined by his vet. I didn't see any pustules in the photos, but his vet will need to closely look for these during exam, as they can indicate the presence of infection. Chopper may also need oral or topical anti-inflammatory medications or anti-itch medications to allow his foot to heal. Repeated licking is only irritating his skin further and could lead to a skin infection (if it isn't already present). Try to put an e-collar (cone) on Chopper until you can take him to the vet to prevent further skin damage. I hope that he's on the mend soon!