What should I check if my dog’s paw is swollen between the toes? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your dog’s paw is swollen between the toes, the first things to check are for something stuck there, a small cut, redness, heat, discharge or signs that it hurts to put weight on the foot. It can be caused by a foreign body such as a grass seed or thorn, but it may also be due to irritation, a minor injury or a skin issue between the toes.

Try to look closely, but don’t dig around if your dog is sore or the swelling is deep. A calm check at home can often tell you whether it looks like a small surface problem or something that needs veterinary attention.

Things To Check

1. Check whether the swelling appeared after a walk, run, grooming session or time in long grass, mud or sand.

2. Look closely between each toe for a thorn, grass seed, splinter, bit of debris or any visible object.

3. Check for redness, heat, broken skin, bleeding, discharge, scabs or a small lump between the toes.

4. See whether your dog is licking, chewing, holding the paw up or reacting when you touch the area.

5. Compare the swollen paw with the others to judge how marked the difference is.

6. Check the nails and nail beds too, because a broken nail or sore nail fold can sometimes make the whole area look puffy.

7. Feel gently for any obvious tenderness, but stop if your dog pulls away or seems uncomfortable.

8. Notice whether the swelling is getting worse, spreading, or affecting how your dog walks.

Common Causes

The most common reason is a foreign body, especially after grass, hedges, woodland walks or rough ground. Small thorns, grass seeds, grit and tiny splinters can lodge between the toes and cause local swelling.

Other common causes include a minor cut, a pad graze, an irritated hair follicle, or licking and chewing that has made the skin sore. Sometimes swelling between the toes is linked to an infected sore, a cyst-like lump or a reaction to something that has irritated the skin.

Less commonly, swelling can come from a bite or sting, a nail injury, or a deeper infection. If the area is very painful, rapidly worsening or your dog is unwell, it needs prompt veterinary advice.

What To Do

First, prevent more licking if you can. A brief clean check with good lighting is often the best starting point. If you can clearly see a small piece of debris sitting near the surface and your dog is calm, you may be able to remove it very gently, but don’t probe deeply or try to dig anything out.

After checking, rinse the paw with clean lukewarm water and dry it well, especially between the toes. Keep the area clean and dry, and avoid muddy or rough walks until you know it’s settling.

Monitor the paw over the next 24 hours. If the swelling starts to go down and your dog is comfortable, that’s reassuring. If it doesn’t improve, keeps coming back, or your dog is limping more, it’s sensible to ask your vet to examine it.

Products That May Help

Keeping paws clean and dry after walks can make it easier to spot small changes between the toes and support your usual paw-care routine.

Pet Care

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