What causes my dog's toenail to get a fungal infection?

Poor Khloe! If two rounds of antibiotics haven't cleared it up I would suggest having your vet take a sample to send to a lab for testing. This can check for the type of bacteria/yeast that may be causing it, or can help rule out anything else such as a tumor or growth. Sometimes, the nail bed itself can become infected if the nail is torn or damaged, and keeping the nails trimmed short can help prevent traumatic injury to the nail bed in addition to treatment recommended by your vet.

Usually a veterinarian would perform a cytology to distinguish between a bacterial and fungal skin infection - they would take a sample on a microscope slide and examine for organisms. It's also possible that Bini has a resistant bacterial infection, or she might have another underlying disease process like an autoimmune disorder contributing to her symptoms. In your picture her foot does not appear classic for a fungal infection. You may want to follow up with your vet to discuss further testing and treatment.

Zio’s nail would only be related to the swelling if it had an infection. Check the base of the nail for redness, a break or discharge. A swollen toe can be a symptom of many things, from infection, to trauma to cancer. I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian. I he starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The most common cause of brown discoloration of nails is a yeast infection. Most yeast infections are secondary to allergies and excessive licking of the paws. If he licks his paws then you should talk to your vet about trying medications to control his allergies. In the mean time you could soak his paws in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps. Dry them well after soaking.

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.

A common cause for color change on the feet of dogs is from a yeast infection. Yeast can grow on the skin around the nails and between paw pads and is very itchy. The dog then licks and chews the area which will also cause saliva staining, which turns the hair a reddish-brown color. The most common cause of a yeast infection on the feet of dogs is allergies. Allergies could be to a food protein, the environment, or fleas. Other less common causes of the issues you have described would be bacterial infection or immune-mediated disease. I recommend that Hadley be checked by a vet so that the appropriate medications or allergy treatments can be used. While you are waiting for the appointemnt, you can try using a pet product that contains chlorhexidine (an antibacterial agent) and ketoconazole (an antifungal/antiyeast agent) to treat topical infections. I like this one: Mal-a-ket Shampoo Formulated for Dogs.

It looks to me like Jax's toenail might be infected. Dogs can develop a bacterial or fungal infection at the base of the nail, or occasionally deomdex mites can be in this area as well. It's also possible that he sustained some trauma to his nail, although if it has been present for weeks that is a little less likely. I'd recommend having your vet take a look.