What are Inflammation of the Paws?
Pododermatitis, or the inflammation of the paw and pad, can become painful and debilitating if it is left untreated. The diseases and disorders that can instigate this kind of swelling are many and the treatment plans may vary depending on what the cause of the discomfort is diagnosed as.
Mild cases may have fewer symptoms, although excessive grooming and licking of the paws are relatively standard regardless of the cause of the disorder, however more severe cases may escalate to bleeding, sloughing of paw pads, and reluctance to stand or walk. Swollen feet should be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause.
Inflammation of the paws, also known as pododermatitis, can be quite irritating and often painful to the canine. As pododermatitis has multiple triggers, treatment is usually focussed on the underlying cause of the swollen feet.
Symptoms of Inflammation of the Paws in Dogs
Dogs of any age, sex, or breed may develop pododermatitis. The dog’s feet are likely to be tender to the touch, and they may be reluctant to stand or walk. Other signs of swollen paws include:
- Biting nails
- Bleeding from paws
- Cracking of the paw pad
- Excessive foot licking
- Foul odor
- Lameness
- Lumps on foot
- Redness
- Sloughing paw pads
- Warmth from feet
Types
Although dogs of any breed or gender can develop inflamed paws for a number of reasons, some breeds of dog may be more likely to develop diseases or disorders that lead to inflamed paws. Some examples of paw disorders that result in swelling and are breed specific include:
Familial Footpad Hyperkeratosis
- Bedlington Terrier
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Golden Retriever
- Irish Terrier
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Labrador Retriever
Idiopathic Sterile Granuloma of the Feet
- Boxer
- Collie
- Dachshund
- Doberman Pinscher
- English Bulldog
- Golden Retriever
- Great Dane
- Weimaraner
Zinc-Responsive Skin Disorder
- Siberian Husky
- Alaskan Malamute
Causes of Inflammation of the Paws in Dogs
Several different circumstances can lead to paws becoming swollen. Some of these may well include:
- Allergies - Allergies of all sorts, environmental, contact, and food allergies, tend to show up on the skin for most canines, and one of the first areas they can affect are the paws
- Bacterial and Fungal Infections - This type of disorder often presents with feet that are swollen, itchy, and often smelly
- Environmental - Dogs may also get swollen feet by burning them on hot pavement, injuring them with caustic materials, or by stings or bites by insects
- Immune-Mediated Disorders - Autoimmune disorders such as Pemphigus Foliaceous regularly induce painful hyperkeratosis of the pad of the paw
- Tumors - In some cases, the swelling may be due to a tumor or tumors that have grown on the patient’s paw or paws
Diagnosis of Inflammation of the Paws in Dogs
As many conditions can affect the state of the paws, there are many techniques and tests that may be utilized to determine the origin of the pain and swelling. Your veterinarian will typically start a thorough physical examination with a focus on the condition of the paws. Hairs from the edge of the area of the hair loss may be examined microscopically to determine if there is any thinning or weakness in the structure of the hair itself.
The examining vet will also typically examine a skin sample taken from the affected paw or paws under the microscope, a technique known as cutaneous cytology. Cutaneous cytology may allow the technician get visual confirmation of fungal, parasitic, or bacterial infestation that may be present on the surface of the skin. Standard diagnostic tests such as a biochemical profile, urinalysis, and a complete blood count will be evaluated to assess the hormonal balance and to check for infections or indications that the immune system was being overactive.
Treatment of Inflammation of the Paws in Dogs
Treatment of pododermatitis will be dependent on treating any underlying disease or disorder that is responsible for the pain and discomfort. If the cause is related to any sort of substance, such as ice melt or cleaning solution, the feet should be thoroughly washed and cleaned and medications such as antibiotics or antifungals may be employed to defeat bacterial or fungal infections. Corticosteroids or anti-inflammatories may also be administered either orally or by injection to reduce swelling and inflammation or medications to adjust for imbalances in the patient’s blood chemistry levels. Dogs with tumors or pustules on the feet may even require surgery to remove the growths before the pain and swelling will be eliminated.
Many of these methods of treatment take days or weeks before the underlying illness is eradicated and the animal may be reluctant to stand or walk, and excessive discomfort in the feet may be further treated with topical anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid drugs. It is crucial to follow a veterinary professional’s instructions on all medications that are administered in order to be certain that the different specific drugs that are provided do not interfere with one another, and that no overdoses occur due to treatment with various forms of similar medications.
Recovery of Inflammation of the Paws in Dogs
The prognosis for dogs who are exhibiting painful or swollen paws will depend on the ability to treat the underlying disorder. Some disorders may be managed in a relatively short amount of time and without a great deal of trouble, but others complaints may be more stubborn and take weeks or months to be fully eliminated.
Additional support measures may need to be utilized until the paw pad is healed as compromised paws can be particularly susceptible to environmental hazards. In order to properly care for the damaged paws, they should be cleaned, inspected, and moisturized regularly, and socks or shoes designed to protect a dog’s paws may be recommended to protect the healing tissues.
Inflammation of the Paws Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
Our Maltese Ollie has licked his foot for a while now. I haven’t thought much of it until recently. It has gotten more and more swollen and he has started carrying the leg like he doesn’t want to put weight on it. We were told it could be allergies so we have tried several different poultry and grain free foods. They don’t seem to be working.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Ollie's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
swollen rear feet and redness. Had boots on are great Dane (180 lbs) so as to help him walk on are wood floors. Noticed smell and took boots off and his feet smelled and they were red and swollen. We cleaned his feet and used some Neosporin. Swelling has gone down a little and he appears to be getting better. Should we not use these boots.
1376 Recommendations
Add a comment to Wilson's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
I’m a bit worried due to her not showing any sign of hurting or limping. She runs and barks like always. Eats food like always “specially if it’s not hers”. I do see the right swollen. The first 24 hrs was moderate. Having it swollen for more than 48 hrs... it looks bigger. Much more redness. She does not stop chewing on it. I put antibiotic and closed it a bit so she does not eat the antibiotic. There’s no cause known yet.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Princess's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
I hit my pup’s toe with the door and now her toe is a little swollen, she is still running and walking but limping a little, can it be broken or is it just normal for it to be swollen.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Dakota's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My big dog is 13 years old and recently had a urinary tract inflection and the medication she was on hasn’t really helped. Now her two front paws are extremely swollen and she limps pretty bad. She’s eating still but has lost much weight. I am very stressed out as I do not have the funds to do whatever it takes to cure her and because she is older- I don’t want to use funds and then not have funds to put her down if needed. And I cannot bare watching her suffer until she dies. Please advise
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Sal's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Hello, my dog Mattie is experiencing some paw pad swelling, mostly on the front left paw pad, but my girlfriend says the other 3 are somewhat puffy as well. She has a torn ACL on her rear right leg, and on her front right leg, she has a sore that the vet described as a possible granuloma that she won't stop licking long enuf to heal, which on the front of the first joint of her leg. Could the swelling be from the limping from both right side legs being damaged?
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Mattie Mae's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My dog's paws have been red and inflamed for about three weeks now. She was on Apo-Cephalex and Viaderm cream with epsom salt soaks. Her two front paws seem mostly better, but still with some cracks and bleeding, and the two back ones are still quite bad. Now she is on Apo Doxy (first day today) and the viaderm. What else can I do? Any insight?
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Charlie's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My dog has two of his toes on his left paw really swollen and inflamed. They are red and hot to the touch. We check underneath his paws to see f there was anything lodged in there but found nothing. It is mostly the top of his paw that is swollen and a little underneath. It seems as though he is in pain and he is now limping and not putting any weight on his left paw. What at home treatments could we try to lessen his pain and or get the swelling down? Any ideas of what it could be?
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Rocky's experience
Was this experience helpful?
I have a 7 year old Pomeranian chihuahua mix who has been licking one of her paws recently, specifically one area on her paw. She licks it on and off throughout the day. It has now gotten swollen and pink. What are some possible reasons/causes to this? We haven't changed her diet.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Mango's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
I have a eight year whippet his back paws are swollen and seem cooler to the touch. He doesn't seem in pain. Has an appetite. The vet is not open until tomorrow. Any advice
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Reily's experience
Was this experience helpful?
She has a swollen paw and keeps licking it. She licks it so much it bleeds and is chewing the pad of her paw. She can walk/run fine but wont let me touch her paw and cries when I do.i looked at it and it is swollen.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Lilah's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My 18 month vizsla and I go on 4 mile routine trail runs every day. She's off leash and sprints ahead and sometimes off trail. 2 days ago at the tail end of our walk, she seemed to be limping a little bit on her front right - but it was hard to tell. When we got home she seemed to be favoring it, licking the inside of her pastern a bit. I looked at her paw, ankle / pastern and couldn't find any swelling or foreign objects. The next morning throughout the day she seemed fine. I decided to take her again on our walk yesterday. About halfway through she started limping again but she wasn't wimpering, just favoring her front right paw. By the time we got home, however she was hobbling. This morning (now about 24 hours after I first noticed the limp) I can see visible swelling on the inside of her front right pastern between the ankle bone (not on the bone) and the toes. I can also see some swelling on top of the foot predominantly over her second toe (second from the inside). I've given her baby aspirin and am keeping her off her feet as much as possible. Any ideas what might have happened / is this serious enough to take her to the vet?
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Petra's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My dog has swollen paws on his back legs. He has one paw "toe" on one leg and two "toes" on the other that are swollen. I didn't see anything lodged in his paws but still swollen. What should I do?
2953 Recommendations
Swollen toes may be caused by a few reasons including trauma, foreign objects (even the size of sand), chemical or allergen irritation, insect bites as well as licking of the paws. It would be best to clean the paws (all four) thoroughly to remove anything that may be present and to inspect the skin for any cuts or puncture wounds; preventing Cal from licking the paws (you may require a cone) is important as constant licking causes more irritation from the saliva which causes more licking etc… If after a few days there is no improvement or there is a chance that the toes are broken, visit your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Add a comment to Cal's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My dog is 12 years old but she has never gotten a swollen paw until today. I believe it may be a bug bite of some sort, but it could be something else, i am not entirely sure. It is the only paw of the 4 that are swollen, note the swolleness goes up to the whole leg where the paw is swollen. She does regularly lick her paws.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to princess's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My dog Wee's front right paw and now "wrist" joint are swollen 2x the size of other paw. In between the pads are really pink and swollen. She saw the vet 3 weeks ago and they couldn't find anything wrong. They gave her prednisone and it did reduce the symptoms dramatically. Now that she's finished the meds, it's back. She comes up lame, and is visibly uncomfortable. She lets me touch it, but doesn't put full weight on it. I've soaked it in epsoms salts, applied micronozole thinking it may be yeast, which did help a bit, but not curative and I keep it clean and dry. My vet didn't think antibiotics were necessary, but it is red, swollen and warm. Do you have any ideas of what it could be? I just want her to feel better. Thanks! Wendy S, NJ
1376 Recommendations
Add a comment to Wee's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My little dog Paiz Lei is a Scotty terrier/Bischon mix. She has been dealing with swelling in both of her front paws for a year. The whole paw is swelled not just the pads. She licks both paws consistently. Our vet originally thought it was allergies but between the switch in the food and the allergy medicine her swelling did not go away and she developed a crusty green like substance around the bottom of her jaw around the mouth. My vet did a swab test on her paws and said it's bacteria. We have her on an antibiotic for the past 2 weeks and it doesn't appear to be getting much better. Any advice would be appreciated! Please help!
1376 Recommendations
Add a comment to Paiz Lei's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
This began as pink back paws, they became red,swollen and now raw. Now the front are pink and red. His eyelids are also pink and puffy. Vet suspects food allergy,gave steroid shot and this was helpful for a few days.he has completed 2 courses of antibiotics,and I am giving benedryl and Claritin. Redness is reduced with this. He is miserable currently, is there anything else I can do?
1376 Recommendations
Add a comment to Matt's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
my 12 year old border collie just had breast cancer surgery. They couldn't get all of the cancer but she does feel better however all 4 of her feet and legs are swollen. The vet put her on steroids and I saw a difference the next day. The steroids aren't helping her any more. She drinks a lot of water and has no interest outside except to go potty and come right back inside. Could this be from the cancer or arthritis? I would appreciate any answer that you can give me. She has also lost her hearing.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Susie's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
Hi my cavalier has a swollen front foot pad, vet treated a few weeks ago with another inflammatories and antibiotics and didn't know what the cause could be but it's happened again, could you recommend anything as I am just washing with water at the moment when she's been out for a walk. Thankyou
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Lulu's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
hi
Me and my dog have been on my farm lately its been -3ºC whit a maximmum of 9ºC the snakes, insects are low due to fires and temperatures. he does pull the lead like hell. we've go also to the river and he runned like crazy was whit his paws digging rocks well being him. could this be the cause for his left front paw being swollen? its only on the 2 and 3 digit and it seems when i touch it in the middle of the toes. he still go crazy when going to take a walk but im a bit worried
1376 Recommendations
Add a comment to tik's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Every year september/October time he gets fire red feet, and swollen and looses the hair on his feet. He will lick the front ones occasionally. In about a month to six weeks time it will start to clear up. Didn't happen at all last year. But seems to only happen in the fall. Did take him to vet and they took a culture but nothing showed up. What can I put on them to help him?
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Hustle's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My dog Oscar is a Husky mix. He is 11 years old. This past Dec he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and diabetes. In previous years he had swelling allergy issues with his feet in Spring and Summer. Now he is having all four feet swelling. The Vet had tried 20 Days of Clovomax then they tried 20 Days of Apoqil. Sometimes it seemed to help for a few days then stopped. We have tried three different foods, one which was prescription all werewere grain free. Now Vet has me cooking his food, I noticed before all the dog foods had chicken so I make his food with Beef and Veggies. Please help, I don't know what else to do.
1376 Recommendations
Add a comment to Oscar's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My dog was perfectly fine when we all went to sleep last night. This morning I realized (6AM) he wasn't asking to go out yet, so I got up and when he came out, he was barely walking, (I thought maybe his leg fell asleep) no weight on his left side back leg. Although he did go out very reluctantly, he limped and was super slow the entire way. Let him rest for a bit and checked his foot the large pad is puffed up. Nothing found in between, no cuts, abrasions and he has not been on hot ground. Now after 2 hours, isn't putting any weight on. Have tried massaging also.
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to T Bear's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Our 4 year old GWP suddenly started limping on sunday. She was reluctant to put weight on her front right paw, we checked and checked and couldnt see anything in the paw or nails, it seemed she wanted to mainly put her paw on the front toes rather than the main pad. She seemed to be licking the paw alot and also was a bit tired and shivery. All else she seemed fine. We waited 24 hours and she was then fine in herself and we saw an improvement on the weight she was putting on her foot but still limping. Over tues and today it seems to have got better but still limping, after rest seems better but then if runs or plays she then starts holding it and limping more again. She is absolutely fine in herself and the only thing possibly we can see is that maybe her main pad of her right law is slightly firmer than the other but thats it. At first we thought maybe it was a bee sting, but would it atill be bothering her now after near 3/4 days. She is fine in herself and eating and drinking etc. any ideas? We are thinking if taking her to the vet but dont want to waste their time and pay fees when it could clear up. Thanks
1376 Recommendations
Add a comment to Ginnie's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My dog is a Labrador Retriever and he returned from his bath. Usually all seems great, but this time I noticed his paws are swollen especially his pads. I asked the groomer and they used the same shampoo on him nothing different except she used a grinder to cut his toe nails instead of a nail clipper. Usually I cut his nails but was unable to do it this time. I noticed his pads seem larger then normal, they do not hurt him and he seems to walk and play normal. I try to rub them and look at them and he is fine with that also. Nothing seems to bother him, but still they are swollen and I am concerned. Could it be treats I got him for Christmas, allergies, or is he allergic to something from grooming. I gave him an dog aspirin. Should I give him pills the doctor gave me for allergies(Benadryl). Please let me know what you think. He seems ok and doesn't mind me touching his paws. Seems like it started when I got him home from grooming. He is 10 years old and in good health. Thanks
2953 Recommendations
Add a comment to Tucker's experience
Was this experience helpful?
My frenchie had the same thing. I did some research and did this:
1. Cleaned the spot with chlorhexidine thoroughly
2. Boiled and cooled a teaspoon of turmeric i a bit of water to get a paste, put it on the spot. I did that 3 times.
3. At night I cleaned the paw again with chlorhexidine and rubbed in 1 % prednisolone cream plus an antibiotic/antifungal combination cream.
By the next morning the paw was considerably less swolen and by the end of that day the dog was running. I was amazed :)
I am not sure whether turmeric helped or prednisone helped or the combination, but I had been applying that antifungal/antibacterial cream for about a week and that did not help a bit, so I am definite that it was either turmeric or predsnisone or both. I hope that helps!