My dog has a sore paw and she keeps licking it.

Question
We've taken her to a vet, she took x-rays and nothings broken, thank God.  The vet really wasn't sure what it was, and prescribed an ointment and antiseptic shampoo.  It's been about a week and it's not getting better.  It's red but not really swollen.  Any ideas?  I think she might have a splinter, though the x-ray didn't show that.

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Joel!

Even though the prescribed treatment isn't working, you should talk to your vet and let him/her know that the condition is unchanged (or worse). The doctor needs to know, as it will help in future evaluations to know what has already been tried.

It is totally possible that the dog has a splinter or something else (like a seed) stuck in the skin between the toes. It might not be have been easily seen on an Xray. Again, with the dog not responding to the current treatment, it's an avenue the doctor might wish to explore at this point.

Since you have ruled out anything being broken, and ointments and shampoos are doing nothing, there may be a chance allergies are to blame. Ask your vet about this.

People with allergies often have runny noses or digestive complaints, while pets tend to itch. The itching can affect the whole body, although certain kinds of allergies -- especially allergies to food and pollen -- tend to affect the paws. To get relief, dogs will lick or bite their paws, sometimes for hours at a time. Eventually, the paws may become wet, red, and swollen. In severe cases, they will even develop painful sores that take a long time to heal.

Often a spray containing gentamycin and beclomethasone or betamethasone used on the paws is quite helpful. It should be massaged into the skin of the paws. Some pets respond to antihistamines such as Benadryl. Talk to your vet, and ask for the correct dosage for Benadryl. (Benadryl, while a fairly safe drug, DOES have potential adverse effects and is not for every pet. It may interact with drugs that your dog is taking, so be sure to discuss use of ANY drugs for your pet with your vet before using it.)

You can read more about dog paws and allergies here:
http://www.ivillage.com/pets/petsymptomsolver/leggs/pages/0,,413231_500944,00.ht...

Another common cause for paw licking is boredom. Grooming the paws is a normal canine activity. But once the paws become swollen and inflamed the problem is self-perpetuating and grooming is carried to an extreme. In older dogs, fat dogs or dogs left alone for long periods of time this problem often becomes a nervous vice. Compulsive behavior, confinement, loneliness and separation anxiety have also been implicated in paw licking. It is often very difficult to determine if a physical or psychological problem is causing the dog's obsessive licking and grooming of these areas. Changing your dog's routine is the best cure for this form of the disease. Belive it or not,psychotropic medications such as Prozac helps to break this cycle as well.

Swollen paws (along with patches of lost fur) may be a sign of red mange, which is caused by mites that burrow into the skin, making it sore and tender. The mites that cause swollen paws are called demodex mites. Infestations of the feet can be particularly hard to treat,

When spraying bitters on the paw is not enough to discourage licking and topical antibiotic/steroid sprays are ineffective, it is best to bandage the paws loosely in cotton socks to allow them to heal. Elizabethan collars (sunflower collars) are effective but traumatic and stressful to your pet. Particularly the high-strung pets will tend to have problems with the collar.

Be sure to keep your dog's toenails cut short since long, or twisted toenails can be the root source of this problem. Some groomers feel that clipping the hair of the feet and applying talcum powders help with this condition.

Applying 100% Aloe Vera gel to the swollen paw might help soothe it. It won't hurt your dog if it's licked off, but the longer you can prevent it from being licked off the more time it will have to help healing begin. (Be sure to get only 100% Aloe Vera, not a blend.)If you happen to have an Aloe plant, you can use fresh sap- right from the plant.

I hope this has been helpful and I wish you the best of luck!Please keep me posted and give her lots of kisses for me!
Nicole.D.