My dog's foot is swollen from licking. Can I give her amoxicillin?

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!

That is quite a bit of swelling! I would recommend that Daisy get checked out by the vet. It’s hard to say without examining her if the licking and chewing was caused by the swelling or if it is a result. Allergies can cause excessive licking, inflammation or lymphatic flow issues can cause swelling, and treatments for all of these conditions will vary.

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!

This looks like a rather bad infection of the nail bed. It could definitely cause an elevated temperature and is quite painful (hence the constant licking). This will likely need antibiotics in order for it to get better, so it's best if you schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. They will be able to have a good look at it and determine what the best course of treatment is. For now, I recommend to not give anymore aspirin. Dogs can be quite sensitive to this medication and the vet will want to get her on a safer medication, which can negatively interact with aspirin if it's still in her system. Cooling her head and neck is not good for the fever and may actually make it worse. What's better would be to cool the paw. You can soak the paw in cold water for 15 minutes at a time to help give some relief. If you notice Minnie start to vomit, or get very lethargic, then it will be best to take her to the emergency vet for treatment. Otherwise, she should be OK to wait until normal business hours to go to the vet. I hope that helps and Minnie gets better soon.

I believe I already answered this question in regards to everything except for the last portion about aggression towards vet and medication. If aggression towards vets is an issue, I would encourage obtaining a basket muzzle or traditional muzzle and beginning to train Rambo to like to use them. I know that sounds a little crazy, but it is very possible and easy to do. This will be very important when there comes a day that he absolutely has to see one. If training doesn't sound like something you can do, there are medications that can be given prior to arrival at the vet (or at the vet) to help calm Rambo enough for an exam. As far as treatment, amoxicillin is a reasonable choice of antibiotic for many dermatologic conditions, but in many cases will require three times a day dosing at large quantities for such a large dog.

These look to be inflamed and irritated not infected so antibiotics are unlikely to cure and may make the condition worse if the underlying cause is not addressed. Allergies, mites and yeast overgrowth would be quite common and I recommend a vet check to determine the best possible action