Sore paws ... Any ideas appreciated

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Greylegs

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My little chap ... A collie/staffing cross about 9 years old ... Has started to get sore inflamed lumps between his toes on all four feet. They seem to come and go, sometimes being barely visible and not a problem, but at other times they swell, bleed and are clearly quite uncomfortable. He's been to the vet a couple of times, had courses of anti B's, been treated with salt washes and antiseptic cream, had a steroid spray which we use from time to time and is on metacam too. When we've treated them, he wears socks in the house to stop him licking them.

In spite of everything we do, they keep recurring and we've run out of ideas. Does anyone have any experience of this and if so, what did you do? Thanks for anything you can suggest ...
 
Poor dog, sounds very painful!

Does he have the issues near his nail-bed, and are his nails possibly affected?
We have had a couple of dogs recently diagnosed with onychodystrophy, although this normally results in the sloughing of their nails.These dogs were quite severe cases and were treated with strong drugs, however they are also being maintained well with yumega dog skin/coat supplement. Sounds like could possibly be an auto-immune skin disorder? Or a reaction to something? Does it occur more at certain times of year? Does it co-incide with running through grass etc?

If you and the vet have tried everything, would it be possible to get a biopsy as a next step or possibly be referred to see a veterinary dermatologist?
 
Could it be a form of eczema? I had a dog with that years ago and he would insist on licking it, so he also had to wear socks and we got him some Betnovate cream which helped (there is a veterinary version now I think which is called Vetsovate). If it is, could be an environmental or diet trigger.
 
Umbongo said:
Poor dog, sounds very painful!

Does he have the issues near his nail-bed, and are his nails possibly affected?
We have had a couple of dogs recently diagnosed with onychodystrophy, although this normally results in the sloughing of their nails.These dogs were quite severe cases and were treated with strong drugs, however they are also being maintained well with yumega dog skin/coat supplement. Sounds like could possibly be an auto-immune skin disorder? Or a reaction to something? Does it occur more at certain times of year? Does it co-incide with running through grass etc?

If you and the vet have tried everything, would it be possible to get a biopsy as a next step or possibly be referred to see a veterinary dermatologist?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts. The lumps are in the gaps between his toes on top of his paws, not near his claws. It doesn't seem to be seasonal and all his walks are free running on grass or through woodland, so he may be getting splinters or thorns in them I guess. Vet is reluctant to "tinker" with them surgically, so really don't know where to go from here. Maybe a change of vet for a new view might help?
 
To me it sounds like he has "interdigital cysts."(correct term is interdigital furunculosis)..my fathers Irish terrier was plagued with these all his life...they responded to Epsom salt soaks and an antibacterial cream such as panalog...if you look at bulldog sites you will find many suggestions as to their treatment ,but with regard to a cure ,see the veterinary site below this one...it's a complicated condition and not easily resolved.. Some recommend salmon oil in the diet is helpful too.
https://baggybulldogs.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/bulldog-interdigital-cysts/

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/i...is/overview_of_interdigital_furunculosis.html
 
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Bellasophia said:
And one more link..
http://www.bullmarketfrogs.com/treating-interdigital-cysts-at-home/
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for these links Bellasophia. The images show exactly the problem my lad has, although sadly, they're on all four feet now!! We have been using saline washes, but I can easily source epsom salts, and some appropriate cream and will willingly give this a try. Being a staffie cross, he's a chunky lad and it seems the chunkier breeds are prone to them. I feel like we have a way forward now, and will try the topical treatments described before subjecting him to another trip to the vet. Our vet is reluctant to go down the surgical route, and we're in full agreement with him on that, but I can't just watch the poor lad in such discomfort.

Thank you again. HHO folk rock!!!

xxx
 
I hope things get better for him as this can be difficult to resolve...
Some suggestions..
Get a magnifying glass and see if he has a hair protruding from the cyst...this has to be plucked out with tweezers...like an ingrowing hair ..
Some swear by hemarrhoid cream ,as an alternative to panalog..
The Epsom salts should be put in warm water,eg in a bath so dog can stand four square and get a good warm soak..
Look at his diet as they do say this can also be common in allergy prone dogs...so cereal free and maybe a fish based diet ..or lamb...or raw..
Scroll down the comments on each link...lots of different owners with cyst prone dogs who have many suggestions as to treatments...but above are the basic standbys...
And finally consider seeing a homeopathic vet or pharmacist...sulphur and silica are also suggests treatments .....good luck!and don't give up.
 
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