My dog's paw is swollen and he keeps licking it. Should I see a vet?

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!

Oh no, poor Coby! He could have a foreign body in his paw causing the bump, bleeding, and his licking it raw. It sounds like you've done a good job of covering it tonight, and I would put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking at it. I will put a link below on how to make an Ecollar at home. Then I would have Coby seen by a vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing the bump and the best way to treat it. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Max. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian today as he seems very uncomfortable. He could have a small wound on the paw (such as a puncture from stick or thorn), a cracked and infected toenail, a fractured bone or even a small growth could all be irritating him. His veterinarian will thoroughly examine the paw and let you know if diagnostics such as x-rays are needed. From there, treatment can be started. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him to prevent any further self trauma from licking. I hope this information helps!

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!

Hi Carel! If Bodhi was my dog, I would have him seen by a vet for this problem. It's concerning that his paw is still swollen, and he is having pain if the area is tender when you palpate the paw. I recommend calling the vet in the morning to make an appointment to have him seen. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Poor Kiba! This licking can be due to an injury, infection, or allergies. The only way to know for sure is how have him seen by a vet, and I do recommend taking him in tomorrow if possible. I would put an Ecollar on him tonight to keep him from licking it, and I will put a link below on how to make one at home. You can also try to soaking his foot in an Epsom salt bath to give him some temporary relief. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

It looks like he might have chewed a hot spot onto his foot. It may have started with a minor scratch or bug bite or allergies. That itched, he chewed it, which irritated the area, which makes it itch more, and so on. I recommend getting him seen by your vet soon to have his skin checked. After an exam and possibly some lab work, your vet will have a better idea what is going on and how best to treat it.