My 10-year-old Mastiff is head pressing with red, swollen paws.

Xena is in a really bad state and desperately needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Her inability to walk probably means that she has damage to her spinal cord or has severe arthritis. Cancer may be a possible cause, but I can't tell from the information given. Either way, she is really suffering and needs pain medication prescribed by a vet (do not give over the counter medication). The elbow wound appears to be a pressure sore from laying down too long. She will continue to develop these, unless she is turned every two hours. That wound will also need professional treatment in order to heal. Please understand that Xena has a very poor quality of life right now and she really needs professional help. Also, 9 years is rather old for a Mastiff, so you should understand that she may not be able to recover from this problem. A veterinarian will be able to give you a more definitive diagnosis and an idea of what the treatment options may be.

She really does need some investigation into what is going on. If toxins can be ruled out and there hasn't been a traumatic injury to the head it is most likely going to be a central nervous system lesion. Unfortunately this is normally a brain tumour or similar. Epilepsy is still a possibility but rarely occurs in older dogs. I would recommend seeing your vet as soon as possible so they can start with some blood tests and take their investigations from there. Fingers crossed for you.

Poor Georgia! There are a number of things that could cause a red, swollen area like this on her paw. This could be a localized infection or inflammatory reaction of some kind, such as from an insect bite or sting. It could also be a skin growth or tumor, either benign or malignant (cancerous). I would recommend having this checked by a vet within the next few days, if you are able to. He/she can do a simple test called a fine needle aspirate to help determine what this lump is. Based on the results, the vet can advise you on whether Georgia needs to be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, or whether the lump needs to be surgically removed.

I would have Monti evaluated by a veterinarian. I can't diagnose a certain condition from the pictures. From so many different areas, I would be concerned that she could have developed an autoimmune disease or may have liver disease which can sometimes affect the skin. It could also be related to other sources of inflammation, infection, allergies etc. A vet can examine the lesions, and may do a skin scrape or cytology to look at cells under a microscope to see if there is a cause. If she is having trouble getting around because of arthritis, then she may benefit from anti-inflammatories to treat the inflammation of the joint and keep her more comfortable in her older age.

Ouch, poor Zues! The swelling on his foot and "ankle" is quite pronounced and concerning. Since you mentioned that he likely stepped on a thorn, my biggest concern is that the thorn has embedded itself in his foot and migrated. Anytime foreign material (like a thorn or other object) gets lodged under the skin, it typically causes infection to set in, resulting in an abscess and localized tissue swelling/inflammation. The problem with abscesses around joints is that the infection can go into the joint capsule, which is a MUCH bigger problem. There are no effective home remedies to safely and effectively manage this type of situation. Zues really needs to be examined by a vet. It's possible that the vet may put a needle into the swelling to see what type of discharge is present under the microscope (white blood cells, bacteria, etc.). The vet will also be able to prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pain relievers, if needed. (Please do not give Zues any over the counter medications, as none are safe for dogs.) Until your vet visit, you can try to minimize his discomfort by soaking this foot in Epsom salts or using warm compresses. I hope that he feels better soon!

I'm sorry to hear that Dixie is so sick! Unfortunately, these symptoms sound quite serious. It's very difficult to say what might be going on, or make any specific suggestions that might be helpful, without more information about exactly what tests have been done, what the results were, and what treatment has been tried up to this point. If you want to request a consultation with one of us, you can upload copies of her medical records and lab results for us to look at - we would be happy to try and help.

I would take Luna into the vet. It could be that she has developed an infection from chewing her paws raw, or it could be that the sock was too tight and causing the swelling. She is showing you it's painful because she's having trouble putting weight on it. Have this checked out by a vet today. Best of luck.