If you dog has allergies (to foods or environmental factors), you might have come across “pododermatitis“. Basically, this is severe inflammation of the skin of dog´s paws. This inflammation can occur on one or all dog paws, on the paws, around the nails, on individual fingers or between paw pads.
There are several potential causes, and it can be a mixture of factors that cause it (usually there is a primary factor + other, secondary factors). The most common cause (and it is in our case as well) are dog allergies, either to food or to substances in the environment (e.g. pollen, grass, trees, weeds, etc.). Paws are itchy, dogs lick and chew them, which may cause wounds and infections, which makes the infection even worse.
I can say that in our experience, Ozzy´s paws are regularly swollen, especially in spring and autumn. Sometimes the swelling is so intense, that he is not able to walk, which of course affects his general well-being.
Most common symptoms are (as I already mentioned): your dog is licking and chewing his/her paws, paws become swollen and irritable, itchy and you can notice discomfort in your dog. In Ozzy´s case, the spaces between his paw pads are red, swollen and in worst cases there is also bleeding from his paws. His paws are sensitive in general, so they crack very easily.
We usually face this issue in several ways, with antihistamine medication, sometimes a round of antibiotics helps the most, we clean his paws every day with antifungal substance and his paws need to be moisturised with a paw balm every day. This is something we have to repeat regularly, at this point we are used to the cycle and we are prepared for it.
In case you are facing the same issues, do not waste time, and go to your vet as soon as possible. The discomfort your dog feels, will affect his/her behaviour as well, and general well-being of both of you.
In case you are looking for a quality dog paw balm, this one has been working well for us:
Dermoscent BIO BALM® (https://www.dermoscent.com/en/products/dog/6-dermoscent-bio-balm.html)
Amazon.de links to Dermoscent BIO Balm:
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