My dog's paw is swollen, raw, and elevated. What should I do at home?

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 swelling may indicate something stuck under the skin and causing severe inflammation (like a piece of glass or a grass seed) or something like a broken toe. Less common would be something like a sprain. At home you need to restrict Olivia's activity so no walks, running or jumping. You also need to prevent any licking by having her wear an elizabethan collar. Unfortunately, there may not be much else you can do at home. You can apply a cool (not cold, just cool) compress 3 times a day for 5-10 minutes. If there is an infection or a break, this requires medical care. I recommend to play it safe and have Olivia examined by the veterinarian. Certainly, if she is continuing to limp after 2 days of rest or if she is getting worse, it's time to have her examined. This is the best course of action to accurately diagnose, treat and to make her feel better. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there. Poor Sadie! It sounds as if you have been diligent with her care-I would discourage more use of the hydrogen peroxide and continue with the salt soaks and neosporin (making sure she doesn't lick or eat any of it). You are doing everything you can at home-she may require antibiotics from your veterinarian and it's worth trying an allergy medication if these happen frequently. Hope this helps!

Inspect her paw for thorns or other foreign bodies, You can also bathe/soak the paw in some warm epsom salt bath, If the swelling does not go down within 48 hrs you need to take her to a vet for an exam. There may be infection and she might need prescription antibiotics.

There is nothing you can do other than keep your dog from licking the lesion so it does not get worse. This looks like a nasty hot spot, but only a hands-on exam can determine what this is and how it is to be treated. Please schedule a recheck with your veterinarian.

A swollen area could indicate an abscess, a grass seed trapped under the skin or a skin cancer. Your pet needs to be examined by the veterinarian for appropriate treatment, he needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times to prevent further licking and you need to stop all walks, running and jumping. I hope this helps.

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