Pets are a member of the family and therefore, require a great deal of care. This implies keeping abreast of the reactions that your body may present at some point, since they are beings that require attention and care, some more than others, but in the end there is always a level of general care.
Meanwhile, dogs are one of the most favorite pets by people and that is why we can find them in many homes today.
What are its symptoms and causes?
There are many indicators that usually warn us about the suffering of some disease in our dogs, so today we wanted to tell you about one of the most curious diseases, the so-called red legs.
It is well known that dogs tend to suffer certain irritations in some areas of their body, as well as some complications in their skin, however, these problems are not usually a major complication for them, something that also has to do with race and environment in which it is found.
Does your dog have a reddish tone on its paws? This can be related to various reasons, here we expose one of the most frequent:
Mushrooms
The yeast infections They can be one of the main reasons why we will find this kind of reaction in our dog's paws.
Generally, the dog usually shows symptoms through behavior, as in the case of fungi, the constant biting and licking of its legs, a situation that can progressively worsen.
The fungus responsible for infections known as candidiasis is the Candida albicans. Is important to take our dog to the vet In these kinds of situations, as this will allow us to be certain of the suffering of our dog, since the infections can vary according to the fungus and it is that they can infect the same owners.
Contact with irritating products
Especially in rural areas, dogs tend to cross floors of all kinds of plants or herbs, this usually exposes them to a large amount of chemicals that in many cases plants tend to use as mechanisms for their own defense. That is why it is very common to notice how dogs are exposed to this class of substances. But not everything falls on rural areas and it is that many cleaning supplies can also generate reactions of this type in our dogs.
It is necessary to keep our dogs away from areas where these types of products are used, especially if the ground is still wet. It is important to make sure that the area is completely dry and ready for our dog to circulate through it.
Food allergy
As in humans, dogs can also have allergic reactions product of a particular food.
Proteins are usually one of the main involved in this matter, especially chicken, so the best we can do is take our dog to the vet to do the corresponding tests.
Stings
Injuries can cause our dog to scratch for long periods of time, to the point of get to generate irritation in that area. It is important to keep track of these kinds of wounds on them, avoiding as much as possible the need to scratch on their own.
The insect bites They also tend to lead to this kind of situation, some plants and even products present in the ground such as broken glass or wires. As in all cases, the veterinarian will know how to respond to this situation, applying the most suitable treatment as the case may be.
Among so many possibilities It is and will be important to keep our dog under the necessary care. The visit to the vet should be constant, especially if our dog is exposed to this kind of elements on a daily basis at home.
How to Treat a Dog's Red Paws According to Their Cause
As you have before, there are several causes why a dog can have red legs. Some of them are quite easy to treat, but others require a visit to the vet. In this sense, we want to give you an idea of what would be the treatment to be carried out to alleviate the problem and discomfort that red legs cause to your dog.
Treatment of red feet due to fungi
When there is a fungal infection on the feet, and it causes red feet, the treatment is very similar to that of humans. That is, we talk about use anti-fungal products. It will be the vet who can prescribe the best product for them since the products we use are not always the most suitable for our furry friends.
Treatment for irritants
As we have explained, there are products that can irritate your dog, and one of the reactions that his skin has is to become inflamed and appear that reddish color. However, it is not only due to chemical irritants, it can also occur by plants in nature.
what to do in that case? The first thing to do is wash the area very well with soap and water. Nothing more. Once you do, the annoyance should go away over time. But sometimes the problem persists and then you need a specific treatment for these products.
For example, imagine that you have been in an area of nettles and, therefore, your legs have become red, they are inflamed and they are also itchy, swollen, etc. Just washing the area should pass, but there are more sensitive dogs that require drugs to alleviate these symptoms. And, as usual, we recommend that you go to the vet.
Food allergy treatment
In the case of a food allergy, depending on its severity, you may need some type of medical treatment to alleviate the effects.
In this situation, it is best go to the vet to study your case and can provide, for example, an injection to counteract the allergy, especially if it not only affects the legs, but causes other problems that must be solved as soon as possible.
Treatment of red feet from bites
When the red legs have appeared as a result of a bite, the most normal thing is to apply a cream that relieves discomfort, pain, inflammation, etc. of the area. Now, we recommend that you take him to the vet to check that, in the area of the bite, nothing has remained, such as the sting of an insect, or another type of object that is causing greater discomfort in the animal (because it continues to provide toxins that irritate that area.
Once you make sure there is nothing the area must be disinfected very well and treat it so that your dog does not touch it too much. On some occasions it will be necessary to use an Elizabethan collar so that it does not access the area, or even the temporary bandage in order to effect the cure.
Other causes that can cause red legs in dogs and their treatment
In addition to the main causes that we have seen that would cause the appearance of red legs, there are other reasons why your dog may surprise you by having them like this. In fact, in most of the situations that you will see below, your dog will be uncomfortable, will not want to walk and it will continually lick or bite its paws to try to alleviate the problem.
Burns
Did you think that a dog can't burn its paws? Well actually you are very wrong. In summer especially, when temperatures are high, Going for a walk with your dog can be a real torture because they go barefoot. If the asphalt or sidewalk is on fire, the animal will be stepping on it all the time, and it will burn.
But this does not only happen in summer. In winter, the cold can also cause burns, and they are sometimes more annoying and dangerous than the sun.
To give you an idea. Try to go barefoot where your dog is walking. Can't you stand it? Burns? Well, that is what you are forcing your dog to do.
When an animal burns its legs, they become inflamed and red, especially the area of the pads, which causes them to peel, blisters, and is licking the area. To alleviate it, try wetting the legs with cool water and applying an anti-scald and antibacterial product to ease the discomfort.
Injuries to the pads
Pad wounds can also cause dogs to have red feet, or even scabs that prevent them from shifting properly. These wounds can appear due to various causes such as due to excessive wear on the legs, due to physical exercise (either doing more or doing less), impacts with objects, etc.
In this case, the treatment will depend on the main cause that has caused the problem. If it has been because of a cut or because something has been nailed, the first thing is to make sure that this object is not embedded in the leg and, if it is, it must be removed.
Then you have to clean the area very well and bandage it to try to regenerate that part (or at least try to make the wounds heal). In any case, a visit to the vet can help to find the best solution and treatment, either using creams, implant stitches, etc.
pododermatitis
Finally, another problem that your dog can suffer that is related to the skin is pododermatitis. It is a paw swelling that may appear between your toes, on the inside of the paw, or all over it.
It is characterized by turning the leg red and can be due to many causes that cause the skin in that area to become irritated and react. Among them, the normal thing is that there is an allergy, parasites, fleas, mites, etc. But it can also involve endocrine problems, such as a thyroid malfunction, a cyst, or that your immune system is failing.
Remember that it is never wrong to protect our dog's legs with some special balm that also nourish and hydrate your pads.
My name is Maria and my 11-year-old dog today I saw a reddish between her fingers, it could be a bite, she suffers from dermatitis that I can put on her.