Red/inflammation between toes on front paws

[Barbara Korber]

 I was wondering if anyone has been dealing with inflammation/soreness?/ red between the toes.  I have a 6 month old goldendoodle and just noticed it a week or so ago when I was cleaning his feet after he was playing in a dirty/muddy area with another pup.  I don't think it was anything he got into there and it may have been there before that and I just didn't see it.  I have been soaking his paws for 5 minutes or so at night in a water/chlorhexidine solution and they seem somewhat better, but I guess we'll have to make a trip to the vet?  It doesn't seem to bother him and he doesn't lick his paws at all.  Any suggestions?   Barbara & Gus

[Christy&Riley]

Riley has come back with sores in that spot a few times after being at certain kennels. It appears the pea gravel gets in there and rubs it raw. She has energy to play all day so we ask the kennels now to curb her playing to give her feet a rest. Not sure if this could be a similar issue or not. Maybe the dirt gets in between and aggravates? We put a little neosporin and my socks on her paws and it was better in a day.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I suspect your pup is licking his paws at times when you just don't see it. It happens all the time. My guy has caused himself hot spots overnight from licking himself. What you're describing is a classic early sign of inhalant allergies, due to the itching caused by a histamine response. Dogs have a lot of histamine receptors in their paws, and that's usually the first place you see signs of any type of itching from allergies. 

You can try antihistamines (not Benadryl) and fatty acid supplements: human Omega 3 fish oil softgels (I like Nature Made minis) or 500 mg evening primrose oil softgels. Give as pills, do not puncture. Lots of info on this in the Health group. 

You can continue the soaking. You can also pick up a bottle of anti-itch spray at the pet supply store for temporary relief. Wipe his feet off every time he comes in from outside (in fact, wipe him down all over) and keep them as clean and dry as possible.  

If it doesn't get a lot better, you may need to see the vet, as a moist dermatitis and subsequent infections can develop. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, I would say a trip to the vet to get it checked carefully.  It is the most common place for foxtails and in fact I saw a cocker spaniel at the vets yesterday who had just had a foxtail (or the remainder of a foxtail) removed from his pad.  They can be very invasive and evasive.  Worth a check.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Very good advice, I had not thought of foxtails. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Well you aren't in a fox tail state, so that's okay. I never think of deer ticks or some of the annoyances found in other parts of the country.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Every once in awhile one of my doodles will lick between his toes and start a reaction as you describe. Fox tails seems to bother them more, or it has with mine. I would think there is some licking going on maybe at night, that you can't catch. But all the suggestions of antihistamines and Omega 3 and such should help if that is what it is. I have never been one to rush off to the vet for everything unless they are obviously in pain or distress, and tend to do more home remedies ans take a wait and see approach. But everyone has a different comfort level with that approach. Keep a watchful eye, see if you can detect some licking going on. It's best to keep it open to air, but maybe a sock on if he is bothering it or licking the meds off.

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

Sully gets it from licking his feet and it turned into a yeast infection last year.  It did not seem to bother him with playing etc but it was a trip to the vet and a couple weeks of meds.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yep, that is why we were at the vet's yesterday.  Zeppo has a yeast infection in his ear.  We were thinking maybe a foxtail (we are definitely in a foxtail area) and he did not seem bothered by it, but it was starting to smell.  The vet recognized it immediately and he is now on meds.  Glad it was not a foxtail, but yeast infections are very common also.  I know, lots of hand washing, especially when you are handling your dog.  It just seems to never end.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

We are new to foxtails. We've never lived in an area with them before. They scare me! 

[Richard Crowe]

I good idea when the dog is licking its paws to look into the dogs ears.  Often, a long eared dog has a fungal infection in the ear, scratches the ear and transmits the fungus to the paw.  That, of course, is not the only reason for scratching but, it can be one reason...