My dog licks his paw and is overweight. How to help him safely?

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that VooDoo has a bum foot. Irritation and infection from licking can very well cause swelling and irritation like this, and KetoHex alone probably won't be enough to get the swelling down if he's still able to lick it. I highly recommend that you put an e-collar (also known as a cone) on VooDoo so that he can't get to the paw. I know it's rough on them, but they don't know not to lick, and he'll just wind up making his paw worse and worse. That being said, if the swelling doesn't go down after he hasn't been able to lick it for a while, I suggest re-visiting the vet to see if there could be anything stuck in the skin of his paw, like a tiny thorn. I have seen swelling like this caused by a foreign object in the past, and sometimes they can be very hard to see. The vet may also be able to prescribe some anti-inflammatories that will help with the swelling and pain (do not give anything over-the-counter as they could be dangerous to VooDoo). It is also possible that the swelling is being caused by a tumor, but considering VooDoo's age, I highly doubt that this is the case. Good luck, and I hope that VooDoo's foot feels better soon!

Remember that being over weight or obese is based on the body condition score and not just the actual weight. If Rowdy is obese, he does need to loose weight but it should be slowly. Here are some helpful links about body condition scoring and weight loss: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-do-i-determine-if-my-dog-is-overweight/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/weight-loss-programs/ You will either need to reduce his food intake or switch him to a lower calorie diet. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Swelling could be secondary to the licking or the cause for the licking. I would recommend you have your vet check it out. Allergies are probably the most common cause of licking the feet, but it can also be caused by fleas, bacterial or yeast infection pain in the foot or joint, a sticker or something under the skin, etc. After an exam, the vet may do a cytology or x-rays to see what is going on. Until Justice sees the vet, you may want to prevent licking by using an e-collar, since licking it may cause damage and infection in the skin.

From the photos, it looks like Romeo has a swelling on one of his toes. Grass seeds and pieces of glass can puncture the skin and cause infection or can get stuck under the skin and cause an abscess. Romeo needs to be examined by the veterinarian in case there's an abscess that needs to be lanced. Also, you must prevent any licking by having him wear an elizabethan collar. Until it heals, no walks, running, jumping or walking on rough surfaces. I hope he heals quickly.

I would recommend taking Maru to a veterinarian. It is hard to determine if that was a puncture wound, an abrasion from licking or a growth. After a physical examination, the veterinarian can determine if it is something to be concerned about. Until you can get Maru to a veterinarian I would recommend placing an Elizabethan collar on Maru to prevent him from licking at it. I hope Maru feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

You are definitely doing a big favour by reducing Barney's weight till an optimum weight. I do recommend to contact your local vet branch, most of them run a weight clinic and they can follow Barney throughout his diet. Those clinics are usually for free (but ask them a quote before enrolling just in case it isn't!). I also recommend a prescription diet (hill's or royal canin) called obesity or, even better, a diet called metabolic. Please ask you vet or vet nurse how you can get this food nearby your house; most of the time they can order it for you!

If this just happened, then I'd be concerned about an injury to the lower spine, or hind legs. In this case it's really best to let him rest until you are able to take him to the vet for an examination (would recommend doing this in the next day or two). If this has been a problem that has been getting worse over a few months, then I would be more suspicious of arthritis. Being overweight is a big contributor to arthritis and acquiring injuries. Reducing his weight is very helpful for these conditions, but they often need prescription medication and therapy to help with the pain and inflammation. For this reason, it's still best to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. It's good that you are concerned about him getting overweight, because he does appear to be somewhat chunky. In order to get started with a weight loss plan it's good to score his current body condition. Below is a link that will help you do this. https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20dogs.pdf After that, you can use the healthy weight calculator at the following link: https://www.petcoach.co/healthy-weight-calculator/ There are some products in the pet store that are actually formulated for weight loss and these would be the best ones to feed. I know Hills, Purina and Royal Canin all have good products. The best thing to check on the bag is the AAFCO statement, which is just below the guaranteed analysis. This will tell if the food has actually demonstrated what it claims. I've included a link to an article below that explains all of this. Make sure you feed the food according to the bag's instructions and try to cut out all treats and table scraps. https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-to-look-for-when-choosing-your-pet-s-food/ The hardest thing for pet owners is that they feel like they are starving their dog. Trust me, you are not starving them, despite how bad they may make you feel. If your dog likes any vegetables like celery, carrots or green beans, then these are great, low calorie options to give as treats that can make you and your dog feel a bit better about the diet. In the end, know that a skinnier dog will be healthier and live longer, so it's well worth it. I hope that helps and you are able to get a good plan going for Polo. I've given one more link to an article with additional information below. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-ways-to-help-your-dog-lose-weight/