What are the reasons for a dog’s paw swelling?

A dog’s paws are in direct contact with the ground, and it’s hard to avoid some external injuries. For example, if a dog’s paw is accidentally punctured by a sharp object, it can easily lead to bleeding or swelling. Besides, a dog’s paws may also swell due to other reasons. Let’s learn about them in detail below.

What are the reasons for a dog’s paw swelling?

There can be various reasons for a dog’s paw swelling. Here are some common reasons and corresponding treatment suggestions:

1. External force stimulation and sprains: A dog may suffer from poor local blood circulation due to a hind limb sprain or stimulation by other external forces, thus causing the paws to swell. If the dog has only a slight sprain and there is no obvious pain response, you can try to apply cold and hot compresses to the affected area. Apply cold compresses within 24 hours after the sprain to relieve symptoms and pain; apply hot compresses within 24 to 48 hours after the sprain to promote blood circulation and relieve muscle tension, and appropriately give the dog oral anti-inflammatory and painkillers. For older dogs with obvious pain, it is recommended to take it to a pet hospital for imaging examinations to determine whether there are joint problems and conduct targeted treatment.
2. Interdigital dermatitis: The swelling of a dog’s toes may be caused by interdigital dermatitis. Interdigital dermatitis is a relatively common disease in dogs, usually caused by bacterial infection after the feet are wet and the hygiene is poor. When treating it, you need to trim the hair on the dog’s foot pads and soles first, rinse the affected area with normal saline, and apply skin anti-inflammatory ointment. If the symptoms are relatively severe, oral antibiotic treatment is also necessary.

What are the reasons for a dog’s paw swelling?

3. Bacterial and fungal infections: If a dog lives in a humid environment for a long time or fails to dry its paws in time, it can easily promote the reproduction of bacteria and fungi, thus causing inflammation and swelling. Therefore, keeping the dog’s living environment dry and clean and keeping the dog’s paws dry are the keys to preventing such problems.
4. Parasite infections: Parasites such as mites and ticks biting a dog’s paws may also cause swelling. To reduce the occurrence of this situation, it is recommended to deworm the dog regularly and disinfect the living environment once a week, which helps prevent parasite infections.
5. Allergies: When a dog has an allergy, its paws may show symptoms such as swelling, redness, inflammation, and itching. In such cases, take the dog to a pet hospital to get desensitization injections as soon as possible and check for allergens.
6. Other factors: A dog’s paw swelling may also be caused by other reasons, such as toe fractures, paws scratched by foreign objects, paw burns, overly long dog nails, tumors, etc. If these situations occur, it is recommended to take the dog to a pet hospital for detailed examinations and treatment as soon as possible.

Generally speaking, a dog’s swelling problem may involve multiple reasons. When treating it, comprehensive consideration should be given and the veterinarian’s suggestions should be followed. Meanwhile, owners should usually pay attention to keeping the dog’s living environment dry and clean, providing a balanced diet, and avoiding excessive activities of the dog, which all help prevent and alleviate the problem of a dog’s paw swelling. When abnormal symptoms are found in the dog, it is necessary to attach importance to them and go to a pet hospital for diagnosis and treatment when necessary.