Why are my dog's paws swelling and bursting again in hot weather?

It could have an allergic component or be an interdigital cyst. A closer physical exam and possibly x-rays of the paw would be recommended. Ruling out a foreign body (grass seed, awn, foxtail, etc) or tumor would also be recommended. If your veterinarian will not pursue a more definitive diagnosis, consider a different vet in the practice or a different clinic entirely. Discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials and even antihistamine use with the vet. It looks like Cleo will need antibiotics once again anyway. Use an e-collar (cone) to prevent licking which can delay healing and may introduce infection.

If the swelling is just on 1 paw then I would be suspicious that there may be a migrating foreign body. Probing the swelling may be helpful to find the object. Also soaking in warm water and Epsom salt soaks a few times a day may be helpful as well. If the swelling is on both feet could you post again with a picture? Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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!

Lucy could have a foreign body such as a grass seed or foxtail causing the swelling, could have broken her toes or torn a ligament, or could have an infection. If she doesn't want to walk on it and they are very swollen, she will need to see a vet for this. The vet can diagnose what is causing the swelling and can treat her for it. I would take her into a vet tomorrow. Tonight, try soaking her paw in an Epsom salt bath, and I would put an Ecollar on her to keep her from chewing on them. You can make one at home: http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Yes usually there is an entry wound with something stuck in the paw. The picture looks like she has an infection between the toes. This is infected interdigital cysts. It can affect one paw or all four. Often they have some drainage and swelling. I recommend taking Willow to the veterinarian for an exam. They will look for a foreign body in the paw and if it's a paw infection they will prescribe antibiotics. You can soak the paw in warm epsoms salt solution for five to ten minutes. This will draw out the infection and increase the blood supply to speed healing. If Willow is licking this excessively please use a restraint collar so she can't lick the paw. These generally heal quickly with treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Willow.

Poor Sriracha (great name, by the way!) . The toes can be a very sensitive area, so I recommend you make an appointment to have Sriracha seen by a veterinarian, as it sounds like it is likely causing her pain. The lesion may indeed resolve itself, but it may be very sore until it does, and it's possible that it will take a very long time to heal or may not heal without medical intervention. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to your pup without consulting with your vet. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough exam, and may recommend imaging to check for any fractures or growths that may be causing the swelling. In some cases allergies, trauma, burns or objects embedded in the paw can also be the cause, but the only way to tell is to have Sriracha seen by a vet. Your vet can also prescribe safe medication to help with the pain if needed. Make sure you keep the area clean and dry, and put a cone / e-collar on Sriracha in the meantime to help prevent her from licking the area and making it work. I hope Sriracha feels better soon!

She could have an infection, fracture, or foreign material in her toe. She should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. Your vet can take an xray to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. She may need an antibiotic for an infection or she may need a splint if a fracture is found. If you can't get her to a vet and it looks like she could have an infection, you could soak her paw in a warm Epsom Salt solution and see if that helps.