Treating a Dime-Sized Sore on Dog's Foot (2025)

Hello and welcome to Just Answer. This is Dr Mike and it will be my pleasure to assist you with your questions today. I have over 25 years of experience in small animal medicine and surgery. I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your little one, I can understand how stressful it is for you. I will do my utmost to assist today and to see if we will be able to resolve this quickly for you. Please be patient with me as it takes time to review and write detailed recommendations. I will begin our discussion today with some questions to better understand your concerns.

To start with, have there been any changes in eating, drinking, urinating and defecating been most recently?

Are there any underlying medical conditions or medications that I should be aware of? Is there any musty smell to the area on the paw?

Next will discuss how the skin can be affected and items of assistance too. The concern is the in the skin there can be opportunistic bacteria and yeast that can proliferate to higher levels and can potentially cause skin problems. This is seen more often when there is skin damage by way if moisture or damage. The excess moisture can allow the normal yeast and bacteria that colonize and to proliferate to higher levels, as these levels increase then more issues may arise. Topical sprays with chlorhexidine( and some may have an additional anti yeast like ketoconazole or miconozole added to it ) can assist with yeast and bacteria control.This can be applied to the area 2-4 times a day. They can kill the yeast and bacteria as they are applied.The chlorhexidine can address yeast and bacteria and the miconozole will also will address yeast. There is a topical spray that has lidocaine and hydrocortisone in it.Thiscan be sprayed onto the red and itchy skin to alleviate much of the clinical signs also. This can be done 2-4 times a day as needed also the reduce itch and inflammation. The following are some example to look for, these can be found over the counter like at pet stores, pet section in some stores or online like at Amazon.

1. Miconahex plus TrizSpray by Dechra or Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiseptic and Antifungal Spray for Dogs and Cats are two common examples

The chlorhexidine will help to clean and disinfect and to address yeast and bacteria. The miconozole will address yeast also. This is just one brand example too look for. Most important look for chlorhexidine as the active ingredient with other brands too. Here are some examples of chlorhexidine spray to review:

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/chlorhexidine-gluconate-dogs

MiconaHex+Triz Spray Skin Infections In Dog Cat Horses ...Walmarthttps://www.walmart.com › MiconaHex-Triz-Spray-Skin...

.Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › Dechra...Dechra Miconahex +Triz Spray, 8-Ounce

Wound Cleaning Solutions Antiseptic Spray for Dogs | Pro·Sense®

2. Veterinary-Formula-Clinical Care. Premium Itch Relief. The lidocaine and hydrocortisone will help with itch, pain and inflammation. Here a few examples to review:

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/cortisone-spray-dogs

https://www.dechra-us.com/Files/Files/SupportMaterialDownloads/us/US-025-DET.pdf

The combination of both product above is most important in the above discussion. The one spray with chlorhexidine can address potential bacteria and yeast and the other spray with the hydrocortisone can address the inflammation and itch. Together the two items work very well together

These items are over the counter and can be found at pet stores, the pet section like at Wal Mart or Amazon. I gave one brand example however many different brands are available. Most important is to look for the same active ingredients.

Diphenhydramine (which is the active ingredient in Benadryl) can be dosed at 1 mg/pound body weight every 8 hours. This may help some itch and inflammation.

I grew up on a ranch in the Dakotas and much of my career in small town Minnesota. Totally understand how happy these dogs are to finally get outside with nicer weather))

Until able to acquire the above items. The area can be cleaned with Chlorhexidine, this can be found at the pharmacy over the counter. It may go by the name Hibiclens or Hibiscrub. Chlorhexidine kills bacteria and yeastquite well and is gentle on the skin. Also hydrogen peroxide has some antiseptic properties to it, however when used more often, it may irritate the tissue and slow healing, chlorhexidine is not irritating to the tissue also. It is the same cleaner we use in the veterinary clinic too. It can be mixed with water at 1 part to 4 of water and then can use a small guaze to wipe and gently clean the area with this. This can be done 2-3 times a day( till resolved). Then can apply triple antibiotic (like Neosporin)ointment to assist with potential infection. Topical hydrocortisone or lidocaine can assist with itch and inflammation.

You are more than welcome. We can keep this message open for some days also, I am here daily and am readily available for follow-up. Please keep me updated as to any changes or concerns that may arise. Above was discussed information,however if any changes do occur veterinary visit is the next step. If you wish for my help in the future you can ask customer service to forward your questions to me, Doctor Mike. Start the questions “For*****.Customers can also tag me when they ask their questions by adding "@DoctorMike" to the start of their question. I am here daily and will be happy to follow up. It has been a pleasure assisting you and your little one today. I wish for a speedy recovery. Have a good day and thank you for using Just Answer. Dr. Mike.

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