Signs of an infection in the paws include licking and chewing the paws, redness, swelling, pain, itching, and drainage. Typically, the skin between the toes and other skin folds is affected with itching, redness, and greasy discharge. Sometimes, brown discoloration of the nails.
Infectious. The feet and paws are often red (inflamed) and swollen. There may be nodules (bumps) or fungal lesions (kerions), ulcers, or discharge (pus) from the lesions. There is often hair loss and the dog may lick the feet constantly.
Call your pet's veterinarian if you notice blisters, swelling, bleeding, limping, or embedded objects in the paws or paw pads. Emergency treatment can improve your pet's comfort and reduce the risk of infection.
Warm Water, Apple Cider Vinegar & Hydrogen Peroxide ~ Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties (primarily from the acetic and malic acids in ACV). To make this paw soak combine one gallon of water with one cup of hydrogen peroxide, and one cup of ACV.
Apply a non-stinging antiseptic solution to the area. Chlorhexidine is cheap, extremely effective, and readily available. A 2% solution limits tissue irritation, but 4% solutions are also commonly used. Povidone-iodine solution is another good option.
Bacterial and fungal paw inflammations often require medication. Your vet will recommend systemic antibiotics for bacterial paw infections in dogs for at least six (6) weeks. If the infection runs deep, the antibiotic treatment can last from around 8-12 weeks.
Causes of Paw Infections
If your dog's allergies cause them to constantly lick their paws, they can wear down the tissue and cause sore spots that are vulnerable to infection. The same can happen from complications due to flea infestations.
Fill your bathtub up about 3-4 inches with warm water. Add a few cups of Epsom salts, stir them in, and have your dog stand in there for 15-20 minutes. This foot soak will encourage healing and drying out the inflamed, moist dermatitis lesions that can occur between the toes.
It's best to call the vet right away if you suspect a paw infection. The treatment will depend on the reason, which can be anything from a fungus to a parasite. Common ways to treat an infection include medication, soaking the paw in warm water, ointment, and bandaging the foot to prevent the issue from getting worse.
The pads of dog feet have specialized skin that does not heal in the same way as normal skin and that may require veterinary evaluation and treatment for moderate to severe injuries and conditions.
Once the wound is clean, apply topical antibiotic ointment. After applying the topical treatment, wrap the paw in gauze to keep it covered. You may also need to put a dog bootie or a sock on the infected paw to prevent your pooch from chewing at the gauze.
Dog Paw Infections
In dogs, bacterial and fungal skin infections are widespread, and they frequently affect the paws. Itching, redness, and oily discharge are common in the area between the toes and other skin creases. Dog paw infections are curable if treated with care.
A torn foot pad does not hold stitches well, so cuts and punctures take longer to heal. Walking on the injured foot often opens up the wound and further delays healing. And if infection sets in, your dog may end up with more than just foot problems.
At any given time, dogs have some level of bacteria and fungi on their skin. “When your dog's paws have a bacteria called Pseudomonas and Proteus, they can give off a yeasty odor that smells similar to corn chips,” says the American Kennel Club's Chief Veterinary Officer Dr.
Make a bowl of salt water and place your dog's paws in the water to soak for at least 10 minutes. You can also use terry cloths or sponges to make compresses to use on injured skin. Repeat this process two to three times a day for optimal effects.
What should I clean the wound with? Warm tap water is recommended for cleaning most wounds. Warm saline (salt solution) may also be used. This may be made by adding approximately one level teaspoonful (5 mL) of salt (or Epsom salts) to two cups (500 mL) of water.
Cleaning. Clean your dog's wound two to three times daily with salt water (see image above). Don't use anything else to clean the wound unless you have spoken to your vet - even veterinary antiseptics can slow down healing.
Frequent licking builds up moisture in a dog's paws that can lead to a bacterial or yeast infection, according to the American Kennel Club. These issues only aggravate paw licking and may cause swelling or redness. Work with your veterinarian to diagnose and treat bacterial yeast infections.
To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections. One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested.
Licking might offer some protection against certain bacteria, but there are serious drawbacks to letting your dog lick wounds. Excessive licking can lead to irritation, paving the way for hot spots, infections, and potential self-mutilation. Licking and chewing can also slow healing by reopening wounds.
Savlon's Antiseptic cream is a form of topical medication that can be used for minor-wound care and cuts. It helps with the healing process and prevents infections from developing. If there is a scrape or cut on your dog's skin, you should be able to use this over-the-counter antiseptic cream as a one-off.
This sounds obvious, but many owners will be unaware that things they think can help their dog will in fact do more harm than good. For example, he says you should never put anything on your dog's wound. Antiseptics such as Savlon, Dettol and similar products should never be used! They are far too harsh, he said.