I am actually trying to get advice for a neighbor, they have a 8 year old female weimaraner, she is a bit overweight. For the past couple years she has been getting e-coli infections in one of her paws where it is swollen and painful. They have tried numerous antibiotics and foot washes. Did anyone ever have this issue with a dog and what exactly was used to cure it? I know she was on Clavamox and other antibiotics but not sure of the other names. She also was seen by a derm vet. Any help or direction will be greatly appreciated, one of the family members told me they are thinking of putting her down because of this.

Kimberly

Foot infections are one of those things that a royal pain to treat. They have a tenancy to cyst, cause the dog to be lame, and are often reinfected. Dogs are often their own worst enemies on foot wounds as well since they will often lick and chew themselves into issues as well.

We're dealing with a rather nasty one at work right now where the bosses maremma had a toe split open on the bottom from a raccoon fight defending the homestead. It was very close to septic even on antibiotics.

Not that I'm doubting your neighbors but it takes time and serious doctoring to deal with bad foot issues. E coli infections are usually from dirty grounds, especially in the foot.

We treated this dog for a week on twice a day Epsom salt foot baths, foot bandaged and booted with the giant dog cone of shame (lol),confined to a small cement floor kennel run that we've been keeping clean and dry.

That was until the wound closed enough on it's own Then we could remove the boot and bandage. The darn thing has had to be lanced a couple times. We've been keeping him quiet in the kennel still with the dog cone on. We just can't take the risk of him chewing on his foot or getting something jammed in that wound after it's lanced.

I'm really hoping we're done with this mess next week. Lord knows the dog is tired of this as well.