Is my dog's swollen paw caused by a nail problem or infection?

Ouch. That does look swollen. Dogs can get bacterial or yeast infections around their nail beds. If that is what is going on, the Epson Salt soaks will likely slowly make the swelling go down over a couple of days. However, if Tom is licking the nail, it will likely stay moist and have a harder time resolving. Unfortunately, there are other conditions that can occur around nail beds like tumors and auto-immune problems, so if it is not getting better, is getting worse or seems painful I would take him to your vet. i hope that answers your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Swelling, pain/discomfort and itch, redness, discharge of the area involved are all possible signs. From what you described it may be possible that the nail bed is infected or there may even be a comminute fracture of the last phalanx. A check up is unfortunately needed to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection or a traumatic injury for example. It is difficult to know without being able to examine her. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to start antibiotics if needed. Good luck and have a good night!

I am sorry Waffle is not feeling well. It is hard to tell based on the picture but it appears that his skin might be infected above the nail bed. It does not appear the nail is the issue. I would recommend taking Waffle to the vet to determine where the infection is coming from and get proper treatment. hope that helps

It sounds like it is infected. You could soak his paw in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps. He should also be examined by a vet as he will probably need an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory to help treat the problem.

Hello, sorry to hear about King. The nail looks like it may have broken at the base and may now be infected. The rest of the nail has likely lost its blood supply and therefore its changing colors. He will likely need to have this toe-nail removed under sedation and his local infection treated. Typically, nails grow back in a few weeks and the infection clears up in a couple of days with treatment. He may also require a light bandage to keep the site protected while it heals. Have your veterinarian take a closer look to determine what the best treatment for King is. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thank you for using PetCoach. I recommend a veterinary visit for Max. It appears he may have an infection between his paw pads. This may require topical treatments such as soaks or medicated shampoo or sometimes systemic medications. Here is more info https://dermvettacoma.com/pododermatitis/