My dog's toes are swollen, red, and she's chewing them. What's wrong?

She could have an infection, fracture, or foreign material in her toe. She should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. Your vet can take an xray to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. She may need an antibiotic for an infection or she may need a splint if a fracture is found. If you can't get her to a vet and it looks like she could have an infection, you could soak her paw in a warm Epsom Salt solution and see if that helps.

Thank you for the picture of Jameson's toe, it's very helpful. It looks quite red and swollen in the picture. There are a number of things that could cause this, such as a foreign body like a foxtail, an infection, an injury, or even a cancerous growth. He's licking it a lot and favoring it because it's painful to him. Unfortunately there are no OTC pain relievers you can give him, as many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. He needs to see a vet to have this diagnosed and treated, and I would give his vet a call now to get him an appointment. It would be best for him to see his vet asap. I would also put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking it, you can buy one at a pet store if you don't have one at home already. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry to hear that Lucifer's paws are so swollen and bloody. Inflammation between the toes or paw pads can be due to a number of issues, including severe allergies, autoimmune conditions, bacterial and/or yeast infections, or abscesses from penetrating wounds. Regardless, swelling of the paws is quite uncomfortable. At this point, your best option is to take Lucifer to his vet for an exam. After an exam, your vet will likely recommend either some diagnostic testing or presumptive treatment with medications, depending on the underlying cause of this issue. Until your appointment, be sure to put an e-collar (cone) on Lucifer to prevent him from licking at his feet, as that will only make matters worse. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

This swollen toe on your dog could be caused by a foreign body, an infection, or by a broken toe. I would have her seen by a vet tomorrow for it. It does sound like it's bothering her if she doesn't want to go on a walk lately. The vet can diagnose what is causing the swollen toe so it can be treated. In the meantime, you can try soaking her foot tonight in an Epsom salt bath to see if that helps with the swelling.

Sammi may have allergic skin disease causing these red areas. Often allergies are combined with secondary yeast or bacterial infection between the toes. This can be very itchy and painful. Take Sammi to the vet for a diagnosis and proper treatment. She may need to be on antibiotics and allergy medication like Apoquel or prednisone to help with the pain and swelling. Hope that helps!

Ouch! Chopper's paw looks quite inflamed and uncomfortable! Some of the more common causes of swelling between the toes are related to contact allergies, ingrown or infected hair follicles, or immune system disorders. Peroxide can be beneficial to clean out an open wound once, but can actually delay tissue healing if it is used repeatedly. In the future, I would avoid using peroxide. Due to this degree of swelling and discomfort, Chopper should be examined by his vet. I didn't see any pustules in the photos, but his vet will need to closely look for these during exam, as they can indicate the presence of infection. Chopper may also need oral or topical anti-inflammatory medications or anti-itch medications to allow his foot to heal. Repeated licking is only irritating his skin further and could lead to a skin infection (if it isn't already present). Try to put an e-collar (cone) on Chopper until you can take him to the vet to prevent further skin damage. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Hi there. So sorry that Fire is having this issue. It is difficult to tell what is going on from the photo. I see the swelling and redness for sure. It could be anything from a nail bed infection, to a foreign body (like a grass awn that has migrated under the skin) which is very common between the toes of dogs, or it could be the start of a cancer tumor. My recommendation is to get him to the vet for an exam so the proper diagnosis can be made. That way treatment can be instituted that will work. In the meantime you can soak the foot in Epsom salts to see if that will help reduce the swelling (about 10 minutes twice a day). Hope this helps. If you have more questions please post again! Best wishes!