Why is my dog whimpering and licking his paw with no visible injury?

Holding it up and licking it are certainly signs of discomfort. A soft tissue injury is probably what is causing it. Complete rest and if the signs persist more than 48hours a check up and some anti-inflammatories would be the next steps to solve the problem and understand exactly the underlying cause it. 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.

It looks like Roscoe likely has a skin infection in his inguinal area as well as on his foot. The licking may be caused initially from allergies, but it sure looks like it had advanced into an infection by what I see in the picture. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime bathing in an antimicrobial shampoo such as chlorhexidine or salicylic acid is appropriate. These can be found in the human shampoo aisle in the dandruff area. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, thank you for your question about Fozzie. Based on the symptoms that you are describing it is possible that Fozzie could have a cut or foreign material present in his paw or possibly a skin infection. Skin infections can lead to inflammation and irritation of the skin that is often very uncomfortable. Although less likely it is also possible that Fozzie could have a broken bone in his paw. I would recommend having Fozzie seen by your veterinarian so that they can examine the area and look for a possible underlying cause for his symptoms. Depending on their findings they can discuss the need for additional diagnostics/treatments. In the meantime I would prevent Fozzie from licking the area as this can lead to further damage. Hope this helps, good luck!

That wound may be painful but it may not be the cause of the limping. It does not appear 'fresh' as I would expect it to if it just happened. Since Roscoe can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). You should gently wash that area on the foot and rinse it well. Make sure to protect the area from licking by having him wear an elizabethan collar. Keep him on soft surfaces. If Roscoe does not improve after a few days or if he gets worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.

It looks like he might have chewed a hot spot onto his foot. It may have started with a minor scratch or bug bite or allergies. That itched, he chewed it, which irritated the area, which makes it itch more, and so on. I recommend getting him seen by your vet soon to have his skin checked. After an exam and possibly some lab work, your vet will have a better idea what is going on and how best to treat it.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi there. It looks like Max may have cut or scratched his paw pad. He also could have burned it if he was walking on hot pavement. I recommend taking him to the veterinarian because it sounds like he is painful. Your veterinarian can prescribe some pain medications to help him become more comfortable. Hope this helps!