Help for a Swollen Dog Paw

" A swollen dog paw is the result of any one of a number of things that dogs get up to and into, ranging from an insect bite to a broken toe. The key is to differentiate between an injury where you should see your vet or one that you may manage at home. "

Digging, running, jumping, crawling, exploring, tripping or stepping on something such as a sharp rock, nail, glass or even a bee or other stinging insect can result in dog paw swelling. It’s a busy life when you’re a dog with so many things to see and do and places to go. While many a swollen dog paw is the result of a minor injury, and will likely not require a trip to the vet, you do need to know some basic first aid skills if you need them.

The first thing you need to know about a swollen dog paw is how to assess whether or not you are dealing with something serious. This isn’t as difficult as it may sound. Simply start by observing how your dog reacts to the injury. Different reactions will indicate to you what you may be dealing with. For instance, if you try to touch the injured paw and your dog yelps in pain and won’t walk on it, you might want to get x-rays done to check for a fracture or break. On the other hand, let’s say your dog tries to bear weight, but is limping. This is likely “not” a broken toe or foot, but may be a strain or sprain.

You can certainly treat sprains and strains at home with ice packs, Reiki (if you are trained in this form of energy healing, because it reduces swelling) and rest. Some people think it’s a good idea to give your dog aspirin. Honestly, we suggest you do not. Here is why. If they are in pain, they will stay off their foot and help themselves heal. If they are on drugs that stop the pain entirely, they run the risk of making their injuries worse.

Ask the vet for a middle of the road dose; one that helps dull the pain, but does not completely stop it, unless the injury is so severe that your dog needs a healthy dose of painkillers to even rest comfortably. Just remember, that if you get a certain dose of aspirin, or something else prescribed, “only” use the dose as recommended, and “not” more. More is not better, and may seriously harm or kill your dog.  

Typically,  dogs are prescribed a dose of 5 to 10 mg per pound, 2x per day.  Note that chidlren's aspirin is 81 mg. (check the label).  Only use after checking with your veterinarian.  Your vet is in the best position to judge the length of treatment and dosage requirements for your dog.

Most Common Causes of Swollen Dog Paw

• Running
• Jumping
• Landing awkwardly after a jump
• Playing
• Chasing
• Digging
• Falling
• Tripping
• Getting it caught in something, like barbed wire or a car door
• Having something dropped on it, such as a rock
• Stepping on something, such as glass or a nail
• Being bitten by something like an insect or even another dog
• Age and arthritis
• Young puppies that were stepped on or dropped (swelling due to a fracture of the metacarpal bones)

Swollen Dog Paw Symptoms

Typically, you will feel the swelling in the paw in reaction to your dog limping, yelping, holding it in the air, not walking on it or licking or worrying the paw, by biting or nipping at it. It’s not always easy to see swelling on black pads. If your dog has pink pads, you may be able to detect swelling faster. On pink pads, you may also see redness that may accompany swelling, depending on the cause of the swollen dog paw.

A swollen dog paw alone, if it is the result of a sting or other bug bite, typically subsides in about 24 hours. There is usually no infection to detect. If however there is infection, pus, tissue necrosis (dead tissue), and the paw just doesn’t look right, it’s a good idea to call your vet for help.

On the other hand, if there is a puncture wound in your dog’s paw, as the result of stepping on a sharp object or even being bitten by another dog, this type of a wound does tend to get infected. If you are able to wash the wound thoroughly and carefully apply hydrogen peroxide to disinfect it; that is a good start to keeping infection at bay. Monitor the paw carefully and call your vet if you see something that doesn’t look right. Untreated infections can spread like wildfire.

Swollen Dog Paw Diagnosis

For example: if your dog stepped on a rusty nail, the vet may wish to administer a tetanus shot. Or if your dog stepped on glass, it may need to be extracted. If your dog was in a fight and got bitten, s/he may well need stitches and antibiotics, based on what the swollen paw diagnosis happens to be.

Dog Paw Fracture X-Ray
Source: Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Swollen Dog Paw Treatment

There are a number of treatments you may try, depending on the type of injury sustained by your dog. More minimal injuries, try thoroughly cleaning the visible wound with warm, soapy water and/or hydrogen peroxide. Dry thoroughly and apply something like Polysporin, Aloe Vera cream or gel, or other antiseptic cream. Cover with a baby sock and vet wrap, to keep your dog from chewing it off.

Some people prefer to soak the paw with warm water and Epsom salts. This works well, but does need to be done three times a day for the first few days to ensure there is no infection. If, after about three days or so, you don’t see any improvement, your dog should see the vet and have the paw checked.  

A natural remedy such as Paw Paw might also be helpful, paticularly for dogs that roam outside and frequently have paws that are exposed to gravel, sharp stones and thorns.

If you are dealing with stings or bugs bites, you may try cold compresses or ice packs. Five minutes on and five minutes off, at least twice an hour. This may be a challenge, as most dogs don’t like this. Don’t apply this compress/ice pack directly to their pad, instead, provide a thin barrier to prevent a freeze burn. If they are in enough pain, they may oblige and sit still for at least three minutes. If that is all you can get them to sit for, that’s good enough. You’re aiming for a reduction in swelling and anything longer than a minute will help.

If the injury appears to be a sprain or strain, some people recommend using cold packs and following them with hot packs. Personally speaking, if you are dealing with inflammation, meaning swelling, you don’t want to put heat on it. Ice it. It you are dealing with tight muscles, meaning there isn’t always a lot of swelling, heat usually helps loosen them up. You just need to know which route to take before maybe making things worse. Also, light massage of the injured paw may help, if your dog will tolerate it.

If your dog has been badly bitten by another dog on the paw or appears to have a broken toe or foot, there is not much you can do to treat this at home, other than rest and pain medications. For this type of injury, you really need to see your vet, as the dog may require surgery or even a cast or splint.  Dogs recover well from this type of treatment.  Repairs such as ligament tears are more complicated and difficult to perform.

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References

Fracture and Dislocation of Metacarpal Bones, Metacarpophalangeal Joints, Phalanges, and Interphalangeal Joints (Last Updated: 1-Jan-1985)
C. D. Newton