UPDATE: Look at Spud's Toe, Please

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I have no idea. Hot Spot?  Allergy?  Are allergies presented in just one toe like this or usually a greater area of the paw?   Yesterday is was really much darker than the rest of his skin. I thought it looked bruised.  Blue/black.

My guess it that he stubbed it outside on the lawn debris ~ tree branches, sticks, rocks or he ran into the baseboard when he slides on the wood flooring.  He does this a lot.

 He will play, then suddenly stop and start licking the foot and settle down.

If it was broken, would he still be able to walk?  Dogs are funny that way so who knows.

He did not move much last night because he just would not move~ petrified when I put Antibiotic Ointment  on his toe and wrapped it in a sock.  He was mortified. 

He is eating, drinking, but a bit more ..I'd call him a tad depressed.

UPDATE

We've sat with him all week and he stopped licking the toe and most days it was not ' blood red' but just not right. No worse, no better.  One person was with him at all times, just to get this healed.   It really looked like it was slowly healing.   

You've got to know Spud, even well, HE HATES HIS FEET TOUCHED. 

He ran when he was outside and today he even jumped  off the back of the couch instead of going around. 

I felt pretty stupid making a vet appointment for this afternoon after seeing him act his normal playful self.

Still, we thought we saw more swelling and did we see oozing today? And we were right.

The vet said, and that was one of my guesses, he slammed his toe into something.  Now, the nail bed is infected.  Is there something in there?  We don't know yet.  Most likely, he will loose the entire nail. No big deal. One less for me to try and cut for awhile, I suppose.

He received a shot of Prednisone, and a  6-pack of antibiotics to last until Tuesday's follow-up appointment.  We are to soak it in Laundry detergent 3Xs per day, and clean with alcohol.

After the shaving ( I think he was  nicked) it is red again and you can clearly see a pus pocket or a swollen bump to the side.

Thanks for just being out there  :)

Whew, those are some nasty lookin' feet 

There is some ozzy stuff coming out of this side but I can't capture in pics.  You get the idea though

UPDATE THREE: Final update

The vet was very pleased with Spud's quick progress and our care given at home.  He saw two vets; the first examined, then he called in the vet who had done the work the week before.  Both very happy.

The toe split open many times during the week and drained and now is on to healing.  No swelling, no pain, no follow-up visits.  We are to continue the soaks for 10 days and complete this course of antibiotics.

We really were blaming ourselves as the nail had gotten a bit too long. He said, they were not too bad at all, that this was a splinter issue and he probably stubbed it too.

So here is our plan- each month, along with Heartworm med, he will get a tiny snip to keep them trimmed and the quick drawn back a bit.  An easy schedule to follow and make sure things are on time. 

He also mentioned, he sees some too short, and that will also cause problems.

So everything in moderation.

I want to thank you all for checking up with us ~ good grief, Ann and Mr. Haley wrote me even though her poor boy had an upper GI that day.  My dog certainly lives a much better life because of our DK Community.  My apologies for not answering you all personally, as I have had some other family illnesses to work through this week, but I saw what you wrote and knew you were there!    THANK YOU ALL

One important note to mention here...Osteomyelitis in Dogs

A Dog's claw and the anatomy are not the same as a human. The quick and claw are, in a way, an extension of bone.  In a dog, a claw infection can become a bone infection very quickly.  So, if you see your dog with a red toe, don't wait this one out like I did.  It won't heal with just topical antibiotics. See a vet and get treatment

[Donna K & Quincy]

 I have no idea what it could be but that looks awfully sore. Poor Spud,I hope it gets better soon.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Poor Spud!  I was also thinking foxtail, or something embedded under the skin.  Is he limping at all?

[F, Calla & Luca]

IT looks like bright red blood but since it's not that I would have to go with infection of some sort. Is it wam?

[Kate C Pappas]

OUCH!!! I highly recommend keeping it clean, use DERMagic Skin Rescue Lotion and put a sock over it. Has the vet seen it?

http://www.dermagic.com

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

My guess is a nail bed infection. Possibly from some trauma to the nail? Murphy had a nail break off right at the quick once and it looked very much like that. The vet was able to clip it and we wrapped it for awhile and he had antibiotics oral and topical. He did limp though, but he's kind of a drama queen anyway, lol

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Oh, poor Spud.  I am so sorry he is hurting.  Ned and Clancy send doodlehugs for a speedy diagnosis and recovery.

[BG and Gavin]

Poor Spud.  If it does not look better tomorrow, I would seek the advice of the vet.  Good luck.

[Kyoko]

Ouch.... It looks swollen or something. may be something is inside, like splinter?

[Lynda Kamrath]

It looks like me to be an injury, not an allergy.  I would do just what you have been doing, antibiotic creme and a sock.  Harpo has that frequently, but on his pads.  He runs so hard that he scrapes his pad and we need to put on Triamenic and a sock.  He likes it and will wear the sock for a couple of days if he is not running around outside.  My stretchy bike socks work great.

[Camilla and Darwin]

:-( I hope it gets better soon.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

It actually looks scraped with the top layer of skin rubbed off OR an infected nail bed.  We had a similar "look" to Stanlee's carpal pad when he ripped the nail out by catching it on something while outside playing.  I see Spud's nail is still attached but it's very close to the nail bed.  Hope it heals quickly with no infection, etc.  ♥ to Spud!

 

BTW Stanlee's nail never did grow back. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Hope Spud is doing better this morning.  If he isn't and it were Haley he would be going to the vet first thing.