Feet Issues, Not A Corn

[inugrey]

My poor Inu has had such a time with his feet. He does have a huge corn on his front left foot. I'm probably gonna remove the toe this summer. This post is actually about what is happening on his back left, which is not a corn.

 

The webbing and skin in between his two biggest toes has a flare up of a blister and infection every six months or so. I've seen pictures of other greys getting this but I forget the term used. One of the toes with this affected blister problem is always a good bit larger than any other toe. When he gets the blister flare ups we treat with cephalexin and iodine soaks. Thing is this time after the two weeks of treatment the obvious signs of infection seem to be gone but he's still holding that back leg funny. He walks like it's sensitive on the back and when he stands he seems to put all of his weight on the back right leg and use the left as a kick stand. I see nothing obvious except that the toe is still larger. His pads are fine and the wound in between is healed.

 

Any ideas?

[Guest FastDogsOwnMe]

Is that Alabama rot? I don't know if that's the term you're looking for.

 

I hope you find an answer for the poor little guy.

[MandysMom]

Poor Inu, I wish I had some advice.

[ZoomDoggy]

Interdigital cyst is the term I think you were looking for. If the wound has healed but he's still bearing weight funny on that foot, I would consider an xray.

[NeylasMom]

I am no help, just for you and for Inu

[turbotaina]

Is that Alabama rot? I don't know if that's the term you're looking for.

 

I hope you find an answer for the poor little guy.

 

Alabama Rot is, irrc, a severe form of e.coli infection that causes deep lesions in addition to fever, vomitting, diarrhea, etc. Inu definitely doesn't have that!

 

Colleen - have you guys ruled out any potential autoimmune cuprits? The reason I wonder is that often autoimmune disorders will attack skin that's a bit different (such as mucous membranes, skin along the nails and genitals, inner ear, etc). It's strange that it appears to be cyclical in nature...Have you guys x-rayed just to make sure there's nothing stuck in there or he doesn't have a bones spur?

[inugrey]

Yes interdigital cyst, thanks! I've been thinking since we've got great xrays of his front feet it's probably time for the back, sigh. And no I haven't thought autoimmune..hmmm like SLO, which Sasha is dealing with as we speak.

[Guest FastDogsOwnMe]

Ah, glad it's not AR, that sounds horrible.

[krissn333]

Colleen, I'm stumped too. It is really odd that it comes at intervals like that...can you think of ANYTHING (however small) that changes for Inu right before he gets the problem with his toes? Does he lick his feet a lot?

 

I would xray to rule anything else out (like bone spur)...when you say "between his two biggest toes" do you mean between his two middle toes?

 

If xray doesn't show anything, maybe do a skin scraping of that area and have it tested? I'm really at a loss. If it were SLO I'd think you'd see signs of it elsewhere too, not just localized to one foot. Pinky's nose gets all cracked and her ears get crusty and her toenails are really brittle. Not that you have to have all the classic signs to have a disease...

 

Do you have any pictures of the cyst or whatever it is when it's in it's full blown irritation mode?