My dog has a spot on paw and is limping. Is it a cut or skin issue?

Hello, and thanks for your question. It's difficult to tell in the picture where the injury is. I'm possibly seeing a small area with minor irritation on the edge of the metacarpal pad (the larger pad behind the toe pads), almost like a rug-burn type injury... If that's the case, it will be a bit sore until the tissue starts to heal, but there isn't much to do other than monitor for infection and protect it from further injury. You can apply a topical ointment such as neosporin, and sometimes they're more comfortable if you apply a sock or bootie when Blitz goes outside. Avoid long walks and running off leash for a week or so, especially on abrasive surfaces such as concrete or gravel. Monitor for redness, swelling, or discharge that might indicate infection. If you see any of these, or if Blitz seems uncomfortable enough to need pain medication, then it's best to bring her in to the vet. Of course, if there's further injury besides the suspected "rugburn" or scrape I described above, don't hesitate to question again with a description of the injury you're seeing, and maybe a close-up with an arrow to the injury in question... Hope this helps!

This does not look like a cut, but rather like a corn. Corns are keratin calluses on the front center paw pads, such as under the second toe bone, which lacks subcutaneous tissue or padding. This will not be cured by putting Vetericyn on the lesion, but will likely need surgery. This is a complicated condition, and here is a really good article with extensive information for you: http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/paw-pad-pain-review-corns-dogs I recommend you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam and treatment. The information in the article should give you a good overview of what to expect.

It is difficult to say for sure what the problem is based on the pictures. It looks as though Zara has been chewing on that part of the foot. She may have a hot spot or is itchy from allergies or some other irritation. If this superficial lesion worsens or does not resolve and new ones begin to show up, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. You can use hydrocortisone spray (can be found at Petco) and apply this to the area twice daily to help any irritation. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions / concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

If this isn't resolving, I doubt that it's a simple "cut". Couple of things to think about: if Zoey is licking this (which it appears to me that she might be, given that the skin is darkly pigmented) this could be something called a lick granuloma. Typically the treatment for that is to keep the dog from licking, and investigate whether there is an underlying allergy. At this point it's reasonable to consider taking a biopsy of the area, which may help to get an exact diagnosis. I would also consider checking for mites (mange) and even ringworm, which is a fungal infection.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At least based on these pictures, this looks superficial enough that it should be ok with topical therapy. I think applying a triple antibiotic like Neosporin twice daily for 7-10 days would be a good idea. This may make Zelda to be itchy. For this reason, if you notice her scratching at her head, use an e-collar to prevent self-trauma as that may delay healing. Otherwise, this should heal well shortly. Good luck and have a great day!

It's hard to see with all the hair, I assume I'm looking at the top of her paw and it's between two toes. This may not be a traumatic injury, it could be a place that she has licked and scratched because she had a small wound or an insect bite or other irritation between the toes. I recommend keeping it clean with a warm damp washcloth and mild soap, make sure to rinse it completely and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to keep the skin moist and avoid cracking. I would get it seen by your vet as soon as you can but, as long as she seems otherwise fine, I don't feel this is an emergency.

According to the photos it looks like a mild abrasion in the central pad that is healing. For now I would just monitor unless signs of infection (redness, pus, foul smell, pain) or if any lameness present then I would suggest to contact your vet.