My chihuahua's paw is swollen and he won't put weight on it. What now?

Poor Chico! You can try soaking his paw in an Epsom salt bath. That can help with swelling. If his toe is still very swollen in the morning and/or he's still in a lot of pain in the morning, then he needs to see a vet right away. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poochie needs to see a vet as soon as possible. This could be an overgrown nail stuck in the paw, an abscess, a bite/sting, a mass or another problem. Best of luck to you and Poochie!

If he is weight bearing and limping and not improving with rest, then I would get him seen to see if he has a foreign body or a soft tissue injury at your vet. If he is not wanting to use it at all then it needs to be seen immediately as there may be a fracture or torn ligament.

You can't give him anything over the counter. If it just started you can let Tech rest for a few days with minimal walking and minimal physical exercise, if it does not improve within 3-4 days you will have to take him to the vet in order to get it checked and treated, he might need pain killers for a few days (prescription only). if the vet think it's something more serious such as a fracture, joint injury or foreign body, he might recommend to have an xray done as well.

This could be from an injury or this could be edema due to a systemic disease or infection. It is hard to say. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend having x-rays taken of the foot and leg. I would also recommend blood testing to see if there are any changes that might suggest why the foot is swollen. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Poor Walter! You are right that you should try to keep him off of it as much as possible, and I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it.

The leash must be removed immediately to relieve the obstruction of the blood flow. If the leg is evidently distorted or broken or her foot is cold to touch she needs urgent vet care otherwise monitor for a reduction in swelling and discomfort over 12 hours or so