My senior dog's paw pad is swollen and cracking. What's the cause?

Allergy and autoimmune type of diseases are the most likely causes considering your description. A check up would be needed and a biopsy or treatment trial with steroids would be the next steps required to have a specific diagnosis.

Poor Nala! I would look into "Snout Soother" for her paws or something similar to help soften her paw pads. Since she is in so much pain, I would have your vet take a look at her. She is likely going to need a pain medicine with an anti-inflammatory in it to make her comfortable. Your vet will also be able to make sure her paw pads aren't infected or have something more serious going on like an auto-immune disorder. I would not give her any human pain meds as most are toxic to dogs. I would also start her on a joint supplement like dasuquin or flexadin to help lubricate her joints. I hope this helps!

This could be from an injury or this could be edema due to a systemic disease or infection. It is hard to say. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend having x-rays taken of the foot and leg. I would also recommend blood testing to see if there are any changes that might suggest why the foot is swollen. 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.

The paws are extremely swollen, it could be an infection or due to repetitive trauma, it could also be an allergic reaction or an insect bite. my recommendation would be to take her to your vet ASAP for treatment.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is definitely concerning that the lump has increased in size so quickly, as older dogs are typically more likely to develop cancers. The lump can also be an infection or cyst. I recommend having this seen by a vet as soon as possible - they can take a small sample from the growth to determine exactly what it is and recommend the appropriate treatment. I hope all is well!

You'll want to be sure that the rapid growth is not a swelling or type of inflammation. If you notice any broken skin, heat, irritation, or general discomfort, you'll want to visit your local Veterinarian. If you'd like to send in a few pictures, please feel free to request a Consultation by following the link on my profile page. This will allow us to have an on-going conversation about Panpans condition. This would be something worth looking into.

A swollen area could indicate an abscess, a grass seed trapped under the skin or a skin cancer. Your pet needs to be examined by the veterinarian for appropriate treatment, he needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times to prevent further licking and you need to stop all walks, running and jumping. I hope this helps.