My dog is limping with a swollen toe. Can I treat a nail infection?

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.

Poor Rocky. The swelling can indicate infection and limping means he is in pain. Unfortunately there are no OTC pain relievers you can give him, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. You should take him into a vet now to have him treated. I hope this helps!

The nail seems attached but the nail bed is infected. The pink tissue seems inflamed but I would not jump to surgery yet. You can keep the area clean with soap and water and apply neosporin. the most important part is to stop him from licking it by getting an e collar or putting a baby sock over it. He does need to see a vet for antibiotics to see if it can heal as an open wound with that. IF that is not successful then they will go towards the surgery route

Soak it in soap and warm water to keep it clean. Once it is dry you can place medicated powder in between the toes to help minimize moisture to dry it out. You can place neosporin around the nail bed also. If this does not help then you will need to see a vet

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Lucy! If you think it is infected it is best to have your Vet examine it and provide oral antibiotics. At home you can soak the foot in Epsom salts and apply a triple antibiotic ointment around the nail base twice daily. Lucy should also wear and E-collar at all times to prevent licking the toe. If there is no improvement in 5 days she should see your Vet. If it gets worse in those 5 days then sooner. I hope this helps and I wish Lucy a speedy recovery!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hank. I am concerned that his toe is not healing. Infections in the nail and digit can be hard to treat. Sometimes aggressive antibiotics are needed. I will usually prescribe two separate antibiotics for a broader spectrum of coverage. However, I am always suspicious of cancer when there is a non-healing on a toe. In this case, you may discuss amputation with his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!