Can I put Neosporin on my dog?
The good news is that Neosporin is regarded as safe to use on dogs. This means that if your pooch trips and scrapes his elbow, that handy tube of triple antibiotic ointment you have in your bathroom cabinet will do the trick.
Can I use Vaseline on my dog’s paws?
Paw balm or petroleum jelly-based products keep your dog’s paws safe and moisturized. If boots don’t feel right for your best friend, try Vaseline or a paw balm such as Musher’s Secret.
One of the more common lesions I see in hunting dogs, outdoor explorers, and even the good ole couch companions with all the snow and ice on the ground is pododermatitis: red, swollen, itchy feet. The causes vary widely, but for hunting dogs, explorers, and your winter backyard ice trekkers, environmental irritation is most likely the culprit. Other possible causes are auto-immunity, allergies, hormonal, infectious, etc. Regardless of the origin, you can try some easy tricks at home to resolve the issue. If the condition persists, you may need to trek over the ice yourself down to the vet’s office.
Fill your bathtub up about 3-4 inches with warm water. Add a few cups of Epsom salts, stir them in, and have your dog stand in there for 15-20 minutes. This foot soak will encourage healing and drying out the inflamed, moist dermatitis lesions that can occur between the toes. Be sure to rinse well with clean water after the soak; don’t leave the salt on the skin.
Be cautious with this remedy because if you overdo it, you can easily burn the skin. A 1:10 vinegar dilution with distilled white vinegar and water can be used on wipes or cotton pads to kill yeast infections in the skin. Wipe carefully between the paw pads with this mixture 1-2 times daily, and you may be able to resolve yeast infections at home. Yeast lives on the skin in small numbers naturally, but if the skin gets moist and the yeast gets out of control, this is a good weapon to battle it back.
Dr. Paige Wallace is the Urgent Care Coordinator at Tier 1 Veterinary Medical Center. Born and raised right here in the Mat-Su Valley, Dr. Wallace received her education and veterinary training through her service in the United States Army. She served as a Captain with the 218th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support, under the 62nd Medical Brigade. Dr. Wallace has extensive experience treating trauma cases in remote areas and with limited resources, bringing a wealth of knowledge and think-on-your-feet experience to the Tier 1 VMC team.
There are a lot of different causes for pododermatitis, not all of them are environmental. If your dog’s hot foot condition does not go away, even if the severity waxes and wanes, the environment may not be your problem. At this point, you need to get a vet involved. Hot foot in dogs can sometimes be persistent, severe, and difficult to treat. There are cases of skin infection between the toes that get so severe they cause lameness and limping in dogs. While these tips can help minor, straightforward cases of irritation of the skin, if the hot foot doesn’t clear up in a hurry, it’s time to call in the reinforcements. Head to the vet. We can resolve dermatitis a lot easier if you bring your dog in early. If you wait, you risk dealing with abscessing and scarring.
FAQ
Can I use Epsom salt on my dog’s paw?
How long should I soak my dogs foot in Epsom salt?
Is Epsom salt toxic to dogs?
How often can I soak my dogs paws in Epsom salt?