Irritation between toes

palmettobug · February 11, 2021

Roman has some kind of irritation between the toes of his left front leg. IT doesn't affect his walking, but he's licked it into a sore. I've got stuff for cat hotspots, which I've used for greys before. Since he's a toe-walker (his toes are high and arched, not long and flattish), I'm wondering if it's a mechanical issue, not so much as he got something stuck in there. As in, he's rubbing the skin and hair of the toes together when he walks. Or perhaps the bones are rubbing? He did have a scab between his toes when he got here in September, but I can't remember which foot it was (I'm old, I have CRS).

I'll get a pic later, he does not like to hold still and you know hound feet are OFF LIMITS. Thanks!

cleptogrey · February 11, 2021

It can be fungus-aka athletics foot! My eggs had it after a vacation at the beach. One had black gunk which my vet scrapped off the other a red hot patch. I used OTC fungicide AND MEDICATED foot powder. But do check with your vet. As soon as it healed in less than a week the licking subsided.

macoduck · February 11, 2021

French green clay powder. I use it here for assorted skin issues, the dogs' and mine.

greysmom · February 12, 2021

If you can call and talk with your vet, maybe send in a picture, and they can advise what OTC powder/clay/soak can help it would save a trip in - though he probably does need to be looked at, at some point, just to make sure.

It might have started out as a scrape or poke and got out of hand, or it could be a fungus, or many other things. You could start with epsom salt soaks, which will help with a lot of things.

1 TBLSP of epsom salts dissolved in 1-1 1/2 C hot water. Cool until tolerated. Soak a washcloth in solution and wrap around the foot, cover with a plastic bag and secure to prevent leaking. Make sure some of the solution gets in between the toes. I know it's hard when they're foot-shy, but it will really help.