Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog has a red sore on her paw and a bump on her head after camping.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 5 years and 8 months old | 55 lbs

After camping this weekend, my dog has a bright red Soren in between her paws. She was running through thorn bushes, so that might be it. It also does not seem that she is in any pain. Also, she has a white bump on her head that looks sort of like her head. It is near her ear.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 4, 2017

Hello, sorry to hear about Scout. I hope she enjoyed her camping trip!!!

The areas are not very obvious for a foreign body or an infection. Dogs can develop bumps and redness due to local allergic reactions which may go away after being washed. However, I would monitor the areas for the next couple of days for worsening by either becoming more red, they increase in size, or develop any drainage or ooze. If so, then have Scout evaluated by your veterinarian.

After you wash her thoroughly, make sure she is completely dry. Other sings which will indicated that she may indeed have something stuck between her toes include limping, hair loss, pain, or if she is licking at her toes on a single foot. Allergies may cause hives, intense itchiness, redness over several parts of her body, licking/scratching at several areas and small bumps. Any of these signs would again warrant a visit to your veterinarian. There are several medications and remedies to help treat allergies.

Foreign objects can be removed as well and treated with antibiotics if an infection develops.

Best of luck for and hope this helps.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Training & Behavior

My dog's paw scab is swollen and red. What's wrong and what can I do?

This presentation could be due to a trauma (possibly presence of a small foreign body) or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. . Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Updated on September 23, 2025

My dog has a painless bump on his toe. What should I do?

That looks like an infection. It could be bacterial, mites, allergies, a foreign body in the skin or yeast infection. At home you can wash it daily with an antibacterial soap (rinse it well). Make sure he is not licking or scratching it (use an elizabethan collar if needed). If it is not getting better or if it is getting worse within a week, then take him into the vet for an exam. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23, 2025

What's this bump scab on my dog's head and what should I do?

If this just appears to be a crusted area and is not raised, it is possible this was an insect bite that got irritated or a small scratch/wound. If the lesion is raised (I can't really tell from the appearance) then we sometimes get warty skin growths that can get traumatized and bleed/crust over. I would wash the area with a mild soap or Hibiclens (available at most drug stores) and apply a topical antibiotic like Polysporin or Neosporin a few times day. If she is scratching/rubbing at the area she may need an e-collar for a few days to stop self-trauma. If the lesions isn't improving after several days of this or it starts to get larger/other spots appear then these would be reasons to seek veterinary care.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's paw is red and swollen around the nail. Should I see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like you indicated, this could be due to a foreign body getting stuck in the digit though other things like a deep infection or even a growth cannot be ruled out. It could even be secondary to her licking at it. For this reason, it is important to rule those out. I recommend a visit to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!

Updated on September 23, 2025

My dog has a red, inflamed bump on his paw. What should I do?

It looks a little red and inflamed so it could be an infection. You could soak his paw in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that helps. Otherwise, have your vet take a look at him as he may need an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Why does my dog have a red bump on her head that bleeds if scratched?

According to the picture this looks like a wart that Lady scratched and now has a scab on it. Since she is bothering with it and seems uncomfortable I would take her to see your veterinarian. They can make sure it is nothing else like a scratch that got infected or a different type of growth that go infected and scabbed over. They also will be able to give her a topical ointment to place on the area to help with any type of infection. If this is something that continues to bother her or scab over I would recommend removing it so it does not continually get infected and bother her. If she is scratching at it I would put an e-collar on her so she does not make it worse. As dogs age it is very common for them to get more warts like these, some may bother them while others will not.

Updated on September 23, 2025

My dog has a red shiny bump on his paw. What is it and how do I treat?

It appears to be an interdigital cyst. Typically they get infected easily and are usually the result of allergies or a puncture or foreign body such as a grass awn or splinter. You can try to soak it in warm water but you normally have to do antibiotics to clear it or have it flushed out.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share