OUCH, MY PAWS ARE HURT!
I had not noticed anything wrong when I let Nancy Bell out. However, when Nancy Bell, came in she seemed to have a limp, with a real swollen foot. Great, Now what had she done? I checked for wounds, broken toenail, and a broken toe. I didn't find wounds or anything broken. But she sure had something bothering her. So out came my Dog First Aid kit, and out of precaution, and habit, I gently washed off her paw in soap and water, and treated Nancy Bell with an antibiotic cream.
There are many things that can cause your dog to act differently, which may indicate something is bothering her. Swollen paws are a common problem for dogs. Although the condition is not usually dangerous, depending on the cause of the problem, it can be very uncomfortable and even highly painful as paws are very sensitive. Since this was the first time I had noticed anything wrong, and there was not any immediate indication of what was causing her discomfort, I was stumped. Time to call her vet. (One of the few times that something like this happened during their hours of operation.)
Unable to reach the vet, he was with another dog... I asked that he call me back when he could. By the time he returned the call, I had plenty of time to observe Nancy Bell more closely, and her walking around, and checked her paw several times.
There were several things her vet asked about her swollen paw.
"Check the paw for objects caught between the pads/toes." No I could not find anything.
"Check for insect stings or puncture wounds (though often hard to pinpoint)." I had to search around to find it. That is not something I normally use with the dogs. Dada! I did find it, tucked under some other seldom used items in my junk drawer. Not that using the magnifying glass helped, but I did look again at the swollen paw, but could not find anything.
"If you can’t see anything trapped in the paw, check the dog’s leg to ensure no constricting material is present (which can easily cause swelling)." Not sure what he meant my that, but I did take a look and saw nothing to explain the swelling or a limp.
From previous experince I knew that any sign of limping, favoring a leg, or hobbling must be investigated. Attention to the top and underside of the paws for swelling and pain is fundamental to an assessment of any kind of lameness.
Swollen paws are often caused by a foreign object getting trapped between the pads/toes of the dog’s foot. Insect or spider bites, puncture wounds, broken toes, fractured claws, and constant licking/chewing, (as with allergies or other source of chronic irritation) are other common causes.
If you can see an obvious lesion, the swelling does not quickly disappear, or the dog continues to favor the paw, call your vet for further advice. Veterinary attention in these cases is almost always in order.
Other possible causes and ways you may be able to relieve the symptoms.
Check your dog’s paws and pads for burns when you get home after exercising, especially after running on overgrown ground, jagged terrain, or hot asphalt. This is often a problem in the summer.¹
If you do discover why your dog's foot has swollen up, and it is because of an insect bite or an allergic reaction, your vet may advise that you can give two to three 25 mg capsules of Benedryl. Be aware that this may make her drowsy or hyper.
If your dogs paw is swollen because of an infection another option may be to soak the paw in a dilute of anti-bacterial soap and warm water solution, two to three times daily for 10 minutes, then drying it well, will help her.
In older dogs there can be other common problems to consider. Sometimes, the swelling is simply a matter similiar to humans, sitting or lying in one position too long. Congestive heart failure, may cause or worsen swelling. Chronic liver or kidney failure can also cause the problem, as can thyroid disease. Obviously, it is important to rule out these more serious health concerns if your dog has chronically swollen feet or paws.
If your dog has swollen paws, the cause might be obvious. She may have stepped on a thorn, burned her pads walking on hot pavement, or have a dripping sore from a spider bite. It usually is not easy to figure out, though, so take a deep breath and ask yourself a few questions before deciding what you need to do.
Your skills in observation and a few questions may help unravel the mystery.
These are some of the questions my vet ask me.
How many fee
t are involved?
1. If only one foot is involved, you are most likely dealing with a trauma, a foreign body (like a thorn in the paw), or maybe a spider bite. Lift the sore paw up and check all the nails before running your fingers over the skin and taking a good look between the pads. Is there a growth present between the toes? If the leg is okay and only one toe is swollen, feel it and see if it is tender. Your dog may have a fractured toe, a torn nail, or thorn stuck in her foot.
2. If the front feet are swollen, and it is because your dog has been licking them excessively, it may be due to allergies. Are her ears also swollen and red? How about her belly? Is her skin raw in other areas from constant scratching?
3. If all of the feet are swollen, check the pads and see if they are damaged from hot pavement. If they are crusty but not painful, she may have a genetic foot-pad disease, lupus, or even an infection.
If the dog is also coughing, it may be due to heart disease. At this point your dog MUST be taken to the veterinarian.
Home natural treatments for swollen feet
If your dog has stepped on a sharp object or wounded his paw, just wash it out and clean the wound.
(You have, of course, have a canine first aid kit.)
For a swollen foot of unknown cause, one of the best treatments is to soak the foot in Epsom salts (about 2 tablespoons in a liter of water). That does not mean it is the easiest treatment. Many dogs will not sit still and allow you to soak their feet, but at least try and do so for at least 15 minutes.
If the paw has a yeasty smell, especially when the dog has been licking on it, she may have already 
contracted a yeast infection secondary to her allergies. The best treatment is to soak the foot in dilute (1/2 strength) apple cider vinegar. Allow it to air dry for best effect.
Apple cider vinegar may also be effective in reducing itchy skin secondary to allergies, and you will not have to resort to treating your dog with antihistamines.
If the dog is also scratching at her ears and digging at her skin, as well as chewing on her feet, and the apple cider vinegar is not effective, you can provide some temporary relief by giving her about 1mg/pound of Benadryl (diphenhydramine). This does not always work, and even if it does provide only temporary relief, you should get her in to see her vet because of the allergies as soon as you can.
If the swelling is in the foot pads, and they are very rough and scaly, it may help to soften them up with a warm water soak. Some vets recommend moistening the pads with vaseline but the dogs usually just lick it off before it does much good.
If your dog does not respond to soaking have him seen as soon as possible by his regular veterinarian. Some diseases (like lupus) will require a lot more testing. Look at your dog every day so that you are aware what is normal.²
¹petmd.com
²DrMark1961
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- Written by Donna
