My 4-week-old puppy has a swollen paw. What home remedies help?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to see Aly isn’t feeling well. It’s hard to say what is going on from the pictures alone. I would recommend soaking the foot in epsom salt for about 15 minutes tonight and then see your vet in the morning for a closer look. There may be an infection or abscess that needs drainage and antibiotics. Do not give her any medications tonight but the soak will help some of the swelling to get you until your appointment. Good luck and kisses to Aly!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would have this looked at by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend having x-rays taken of the toe to make sure the toe is not broken. If there is no broken bones, then I worry about a bacterial infection and he may need to be placed on oral antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello, until you can seek veterinary attention, you can soak Pablo's foot in warm water while gently massaging the foot. This will hopefully stimulate blood flow & prevent further tissue damage. But please consider having your veterinarian look at things soon. Take care.

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor B. I recommend getting the foot looked at. Yes, the circulation was compromised but the nerves could also have been damaged. My hope is that with time the nerves and vessels will return to normal. If B is holding up the foot it is likely painful. The vet can prescribe pain medications to help him feel better. Good luck!

Poor Teddy! That does look quite sore :( If he's acting normal otherwise, you can try soaking his paw in warm water and Epsom salt for a few minutes, 1-2 times a day - often, this helps to draw out fluid and reduce swelling and irritation from minor sore spots or injuries like this. If he's licking or chewing at his paw, you may also need to place an e-collar (plastic cone) on him to prevent this, so he doesn't continue to make it worse. If there is no improvement in the next 2-3 days, or if the spot seems to be getting larger or Teddy seems excessively painful, it would be best to have this checked by your vet - he may need oral antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory medication to treat the problem.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I agree with you that Savage's paw does in fact look very swollen. This is likely causing Savage a great deal of pain and discomfort and further evaluation and treatment of this will require veterinary treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to appropriately medicate him for pain control and possibly sedate him so that the paw can be carefully inspected to look for possible reasons that can result in swelling such as a foreign body stuck in the paw. They would be able to proceed with treatment based on findings. Good luck and have a good night!

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.