Broken toe?? UPDATE

[L.M.]

As I'm typing this, Stella is gnawing on her red, swollen "toe."  The hair is gone.....she must have done this while we were at work today.  Can dogs break their individual "toes?"  She is chewing like crazy at it...partially because I just noticed it and was touching it, but it clearly is bothering her.  She is not limping, though.  Of course, we will call the vet in the morning to bring her in, but I always like to get some feedback from you all as well.  I attached photos...they are not great, but show how red it is.  My concern is that her other foot is slightly red as well and seems like she may have been chewing on that one too just a little bit.  My other concern- Stella has been known to get yeast infections...and she had a staph infection just a few months ago....I'm wondering if this could all be connected because with her staph infection she had hair loss and redness too.  Any ideas or similar experiences out there?  (The 3rd picture is of the foot that she only seemed to be slightly chewing on...the other 2 are of the "bad" toe.  Both are her back feet.) 

UPDATE:  Well, all of you were right!  Allergies it is!  They did a lot at the vet and we got a lot of meds for Stella.  They did a skin scraping and a black light test I believe....they also wanted to rule out mites and fleas, which they did.  We got pills for her- antibiotics, and a spray for her foot.  We also got fish oil....it's fish oil capsules which they said to puncture and mix the liquid in with her food.  I wanted your feedback on that...the fish oil...I have really no knowledge of dog allergies.. anyone use fish oil for them?? I didn't research it yet, but it just sounded strange...The vet couldn't tell us what she was allergic to, which I'm guessing is normal...she is thinking seasonal allergies to grass or something in the grass...and it doesn't help that Stella is a digger, though it is her back paws that seem to bother her most.  Do we have an allergy group on DK?  I know this is something we will have to learn to control with Stella, but I'm hoping to not have to run back to the vet constantly with this....all her issues this year..staph and yeast infections were definitely connected to the allergies, so any advice, remedies, etc on how to best control them would be great!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This looks and sounds like allergies to me, and the hair loss/infection is part of that. Biting, licking and chewing the paws, with redness, hair loss, and subsequent infections are the most common signs of seasonal/environmental allergies in dogs.

[L.M.]

I'm thinking now that Stella has been suffering from allergies all along and has been misdiagnosed with yeast and staph infections..... I just checked her belly area and it seems like it is getting discolored again too like it was when they said she had a yeast infection months ago.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They can develop yeast and staph infections from the scratching and licking, but they are scratching and licking because of the itching from the allergies.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Karen please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it help at least for tonight to give her some benedryl or claritin and also rinse off his feet with some warm water.  This is what I usually do for Lucy if she is having a particularly rough day.  Hers have never been anything like this though.  Might help get her through the night until you see the vet in the morning.

[L.M.]

Thanks!  I don't have allergy meds in the house, but I will at least rinse her feet off.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Soaking in epsom salts and warm water helps, but be sure and dry them really really well.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Poor Stella, hope you got her through the night and today is a better day. It sure looks like allergies to me.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I hope you get more information at the Vet....please let us know. 

[Doris]

Ouch - I hope Stella is feeling better!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Poor Stella. I feel for her with all the itching. Hopefully, you can get this under control.  Good luck!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

As I am typing this, Spud is chewing on a paw.   I thought he had a burr stuck in between his toes but, I see nothing. I've trimmed all the hair away hoping it gets some air.   I do have some Claritin here and I'm reaching for it right now!   Your pictures are alarming. I am so sorry.

I hope she is much better soon.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

There is an Atopic Dermatitis group, led by Karen of Karen and Jack.  You have to request to be part of the group and then she will accept you I believe.  It is a special group.  Karen is the resident allergy expert.  I applaud your vet for not trying to tell you it was a food allergy and sending you down that path.  The fish oil is ok.  Many here use Evening Primrose Oil instead.  That is what we use.  I don't put it on the food, I just give it to them and they eat it.  You can also do a search on "allergies" and you will get gobs of information.    I'm sure Karen will jump in here as well.