Why is my dog's paw swollen, causing her to limp and be lethargic?

I'm sorry to hear that Diamond isn't doing well. There are many potential reasons for lameness and lethargy. The first thing that comes to mind would be a tick-related illness such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can cause significant joint inflammation, fever and general malaise. I would ensure that Diamond has easy access to food and water and that you offer him some yummy options such as low-sodium chicken broth to drink and boiled chicken to eat. You can also try applying a cool compress to his swollen paw. If these ministrations are not successful and Diamond continues to be lethargic and inappetant, I would strongly recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are relatively easy to diagnose and are treatable. Other potential causes for his symptoms would be an injury, infection or cancer. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what is going on.

Pipi could have a soft tissue injury, a dislocated bone or even a broken bone. I recommend having your veterinarian do an exam and maybe an X-ray to diagnose her. She may need rest, dog anti inflammatory medication or even a splint. I would not splint it yourself as that could accidentally affect her growth plates and cause long term issues. Do not give any human medication as it can be toxic to dogs.

I am sorry to hear about Cinnamon! If this has been going on for several days I think it is time to take her in for an exam at the vet. She is in pain and it seems to be affecting her day to day activity. We could have a variety of causes including a small fracture in a toe, or a foreign body (like a splinter or grass awn) buried deep in the skin causing inflammation and pain. The vet may recommend an x-ray or may shave some of the fur away to check for wounds that can be difficult to see on hairy skin.

I'm sorry Sally is not feeling well! The large blister definitely looks like it can be caused by an inset bite and is painful, but it is also concerning that she is lethargic. I recommend having her looked at by a vet as soon as possible, in case there is systemic toxicity from the bite.

It's possible that Bandit has injured a tendon, ligament, or bone in the toe to cause swelling and a limp. These injuries are best treated with antiinflamatories and stabilisation/bandaging, so it's best to take him to the vet for a diagnosis and treatment. It's not an emergency though, so this can wait until normal business hours. These injuries tend to heal well over a couple of months if not reinjured. For now, it's best to restrict Bandit's activity and ice the area for 15 minutes twice a day. I hope that helps and Bandit gets better soon.

I am very sorry to hear that Gab is having trouble with her leg and limping, I am sure it is worrying for you both. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why a dog may limp, ranging from injury, infection, osteoarthritis, disorders of the growing bones or joints, and even some cancers. She may be licking at the paw because it hurts, or there is something inside of it such as a migrating grass seed. Signs of infection in a paw would include redness, swelling, and discharge. Gab would also likely have a fever. Here is an article to help you check if she has a fever; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever In order to determine the precise cause of Gab's limb pain it would be best to take her in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Gab comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Gab seems very uncomfortable or depressed, you suspect a broken bone, the limb is dangling at an unnatural angle, a limb is being dragged, severe swelling is occurring, the limb is hot, bone is piercing the skin, or nonstop bleeding is occurring, Gab needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If none of the above are occurring, and due to the high frequency of injury or trauma cases in limping dogs, you can try conservative management at home for 24 hours to see if Gab improves. Keep Gab as comfortable as possible, and strict rest with as little movement as can be managed When moving handle with care Do not give Gab any medications without a veterinarian’s approval Apply a cold compress for first 24 hours Switch to a warm compress after 24 hours If pain or limping continues after 24 hours then take Gab to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Gab feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

Ouch! Poor Maggie! That swelling around the bite is an indication of infection and looks like Maggie needs antibiotics. It also looks very painful so Maggie needs to go to a veterinarian to have it evaluated. That bite is near a joint so I would take her right away to avoid any serious infections.