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Dog has boils/blisters between toes

We have a 4 year old male yellow lab. We've only had him for 2 months. He was always an outdoor dog but has become an indoor dog since living with us. A few days ago we noticed what looked like a blister or a boil on the webbing between his 2 middle "toes" on his front paw. It looked like it was going down, then the next day it was worse. He must have picked at it because later it had a hole in the top and had drained. The next day there was another one right next to the first one. He has been licking at picking at this one, too. What should we do? Should we try to pop it and drain it for him or let him do it? Should we take him to the vet? We're worried about him and want to take care of him but can't afford a huge vet bill right now.
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675347 tn?1365460645
COMMUNITY LEADER
This must be so painful for her to walk on!
I think you need to go back to the vet and ask what's going on. It may be a cyst which gets infected from time to time. A cyst, unless completely removed will keep filling up again (it's like a little capsule) can can be prone to infection.

Anyway -I am unsure what it could be but I think you need to take her back to the vet for some advice.

Are her nails cut TOO short by any chance? In which case, infection could get in via the "Quick".
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My dog has a reoccurring boil in the same spot every time that shows up a day or two after she gets her nails trim.  She just had an xray and my vet said that he saw a few things that might be irritating that area and so he put her under cut it open cleaned it out find the few couple little items --flushed them out.  That was two weeks ago.  Had her toe nails trimmed and now the boil is happening again.  This has been going on for almost a full year.  My pour little dog needs to put this to rest.  Thank you in advance for any advice.
cc
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
It sounds like interdigital pyoderma.  They develop cysts (although not in the true sense of the word) between the toes and these become infected.  The only way you are going to clear it up is with antibiotics, but what type of antibiotics depends on a couple of different things.  A culture should be done to determine what type of bacteria is causing it, and then depending upon how deep into the skin the infection is, sometimes a topical antibiotic can take care of it, but if it is deep into the skin, oral antibiotics will be necessary.

Try to keep him from licking at it, because this will keep it wet and in the folds of the toes it won't ever dry real well, and this is just going to keep it going.  If he won't leave it alone, put an Elizabethan collar on him to prevent him from messing with it until it heals up.

Make an appointment with your vet ASAP so that you can start him on his antibiotics.  Wet spring weather is coming, and it's going to turn into a real uphill battle if you don't get a handle on it soon.  Remember to always dry his feet well when he comes into the house from being outside if it is wet out.  Pay special attention to the areas between the toes.

Please post back often to keep us up to date on his progress!  :)

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you for sharing this my boy JED  is 4 yrs. old it has been very wet this summer our back yard has never dried up all the way, he is an inside dog but I do put him out to go through out the day. these sore's just started a few wks. ago I took him to the vet but they never looked at his feet they will next week.  Again Thank you so much this helps me to know what to show them.
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