My dog has an infected paw with a black nail. Is it an emergency?

Question

I have an 11 year old male Labradoodle with addison’s disease. his back right paw seems to be infected and it looks like the nail at the site of the infection has turned black. is this an emergency? should he be taken to the animal hospital immediately or can i wait to take him to the vet? Pet's info: Dog | Labradoodle | Male | neutered | 9 years and 6 months old | 55 lbs

Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS · Accepted Answer

This presentation could be due to a trauma (foreign body lesion/abscess) or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. This is not an emergency but needs to be seen as soon as your vet is open during normal hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

My dog has an infected paw with a black nail. Is it an emergency?

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