My dog's paws are red and licked. Is it yeast, infection, or hyperkeratosis?

A common cause for color change on the feet of dogs is from a yeast infection. Yeast can grow on the skin around the nails and between paw pads and is very itchy. The dog then licks and chews the area which will also cause saliva staining, which turns the hair a reddish-brown color. The most common cause of a yeast infection on the feet of dogs is allergies. Allergies could be to a food protein, the environment, or fleas. Other less common causes of the issues you have described would be bacterial infection or immune-mediated disease. I recommend that Hadley be checked by a vet so that the appropriate medications or allergy treatments can be used. While you are waiting for the appointemnt, you can try using a pet product that contains chlorhexidine (an antibacterial agent) and ketoconazole (an antifungal/antiyeast agent) to treat topical infections. I like this one: Mal-a-ket Shampoo Formulated for Dogs.

It would be hard to say what the cause is without having a sample of the affected area taken. Your vet can do this and have it cultured to determine if it is yeast or bacterial in cause which can provide a more targeted treatment. In the meantime, keeping the paws clean and dry is the best course of action as this can help minimize yeast and bacterial growth, especially between the toes where they thrive on moisture. Placing an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Val can also help keep her from licking which can introduce more moisture and bacteria.

No, I would not use these on Bruno. First off, it's not safe to self treat your animal, as you may accidentally do more harm than good. Secondly, the common meds used to treat yeast infections in dogs include miconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole, which can only be prescribed by your vet. Finally, there are other causes for itching and redding skin in paws, such as allergies, and the underlying cause of this behavior needs to be diagnosed in order to be treated correct. If you are concerned that Bruno has a yeast infection, I would take him into the vet for an exam to confirm that he does have one, and the vet can prescribe an appropriate treatment for him.

Only your vet can make the decision if it is acceptable or not to use Fluconazole with cetrizine with Bruno. Cetrizine is an antihistamine which is primarily used in humans, so it would be considered off label use in dogs. Because of this, only a vet who has a client patient relationship can safe if it is okay to use in a particular animal, and that is impossible to achieve this relationship via an internet forum. I recommend taking Bruno into the vet to discuss the use of these drugs together.

Hi, it could be that Rocky has a yeast that has overgrown on the skin and it is causing some dermatitis. You could try bathing his feet once or twice a day with a shampoo that will help with itchiness and keeping this Yeast under control. In the UK we use this particular shampoo a lot https://amzn.to/34Vhepr . Hope this helps !

This could be due to a bacterial, fungal infection or possibly the presence of a foreign body. Ideally that small red lump in between fingers should be disinfected and lanced. If persistent infection is present despite antibiotics, a bacterial swab should be taken for culture and sensitivity testing. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking (if any). 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Good question. I recommend washing and soaking her feet in an antifungal shampoo, or a dilute iodine solution (that may cause fur discoloration). I would do this once daily for a week or so. If it’s not improving please take her on for an exam. They may do skin cytology to determine if it’s yeast only or if there is bacteria or mites adding to the problem. Then they can give the appropriate oral medication to clear this up. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Roxy.