symptoms of dog interdigital inflammation

The common symptoms of dog interdigital inflammation are the appearance of small bumps or abscesses between the dog's toes or on other parts of the foot. At first, they resemble pimples and are relatively small, but they gradually become larger and may even burst open, releasing pus or blood. Due to the swelling and pain, the dog may be hesitant to step on the ground, causing it to limp when walking. Additionally, the dog may repeatedly lick its foot due to itchiness, eventually forming an abscess. If left untreated, the abscess will eventually rupture, leading to redness, swelling, and even ulceration of the entire foot.

Interdigital inflammation in dogs is generally caused by bacterial infections. The abscess may occur in one interdigital space or in multiple spaces, and the skin color will turn red, with the fur around the toes also beginning to change. The common symptoms include the following:

Redness and abscess formation on the soles of the feet

After bacterial infection of the dog's toes, small bumps will appear between the toes or on other parts of the foot. Initially, they are small and resemble pimples, but as the condition worsens, they gradually become larger, releasing pus or blood, and the swelling increases. This is one of the most obvious symptoms of interdigital inflammation.

Pungent smell from the soles

Dog sweat glands are mostly distributed on the soles of their feet, which normally secrete sweat to regulate body temperature, giving off a faint scent. However, if the dog has interdigital inflammation, increased sweat secretion causes moisture, promoting the growth of bacteria and fungi, resulting in a strong and peculiar smell.

Limping while walking

When the dog's interdigital inflammation worsens and abscesses form, the dog will feel pain from the abscesses between the toes, causing it to be hesitant to put its paws on the ground. As a result, the dog will limp when walking.

Repeatedly licking the feet

Due to the pain and itchiness caused by the abscess on the soles, the dog may exhibit repeated attempts to lick its feet to alleviate the discomfort and pain.