Caring For Your Dog’s Paws

By Kay Hisano | Dated November 1, 2024

Have you ever noticed your pup favoring a paw or giving their nails a little too much attention? It might be time to dig into what’s going on. Here’s an informative look at how these infections present themselves and how we can help our four-legged pals get back to their playful selves.

Chloe, Nurse Sally’s beautiful pup came to see us, as she had been licking at one of her paws excessively the past day and limping on it. We immediately had a good look at her paw and examined all her joints. Upon examination, we noticed that she was sore on touch on one digit in particular and could see that the nail bed looked red and inflamed.

A sample was taken from around her nail bed and we could see that she had a bacterial infection.

How Do You Know If Your Dog’s Nail Needs Attention?

Nail bed infections can sneak up on our pups, but there are some telltale signs that they might be dealing with a little toenail trouble:

1. Swelling and Redness: If your dog’s paw looks like it’s auditioning for a role in a horror movie, with some serious swelling and redness around the nail, it’s time to investigate further!
2. Painful Paws: If your dog is limping or giving you that sad puppy dog look when you touch their paw, they might be feeling some pain. Excessive licking or chewing at the nails can also indicate discomfort.
3. Discharge: If you see any pus or funky discharge oozing from around the nail, it’s a sure sign that a trip to the vet is in order.
4. Nail Conformation: Brittle, discolored, or oddly shaped nails?  Sometimes, the nail might even decide to detach from the nail bed.
5. Bad smell: If your dog’s paw starts to emit a not-so-pleasant odor, it could be a signal that an infection is brewing. Let’s keep those paws smelling like roses!

What Causes Nail Bed Infections?

Nail bed infections can happen for several reasons, including:

• Bacterial Invaders: Often caused by a small injury or trauma to the nail, which allows bacteria to crash the party.
• Fungal Frenzy: Yeast and fungi can also wreak havoc, especially if your pup likes to explore muddy puddles or roll around in damp grass.
• Allergic Reactions: Allergies can lead to inflammation and make your dog more susceptible to infections.
• Underlying Health Conditions

How Do We Treat This Nail-icious Situation?

1. Vet Check-Up:  We’ll give those paws a thorough examination and may even take some samples to figure out what’s causing the ruckus.
2. Medications to the Rescue: Depending on the culprit, your vet might prescribe antibiotics for bacteria or antifungal medications.
3. Topical Treatments: Sometimes, we can use creams or ointments directly on the affected area to help soothe and heal.
4. Pain Relief: Just like we take pain relievers, your dog might need some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ease the discomfort.
5. Elizabeth Collar: Often times E-collars will be required to prevent dogs from licking at the infected area.
6. Surgical Solutions: In more severe cases, we may need to remove the troublesome nail or drain any pesky abscesses.

Nail bed infections might not be the most glamorous topic, but they’re an important one for keeping our furry friends healthy and happy.

After being on antibiotics, Chloe is finally back to her happy, jolly self. Looking ready to get the E-collar off!