Most dogs will have to go to the vets for treatment at least once in their life and in many cases, the dog will need an IV for its treatment.
In the majority of cases, there should be no complications or side effects after a treatment but in some cases, your dog’s paw may swell up.
Over the last few months, we have noticed a large number of people reaching out and asking questions about why their dog’s paw has swollen after an IV treatment with many dog owners being worried about this.
This is why we have decided to publish this article going over the most common reasons that your dog’s paw may swell up after an IV.
Please note though, this article is intended as information only and is not a substitute for professional advice from a veterinarian!
If possible, we would always recommend that you seek professional assistance in this situation as some of the less common causes of a dog’s paw swelling after an IV can actually be serious.
Still, we hope that this article will be able to help as many of our readers as possible get a better idea of the potential problems with their dog that is causing the swelling in their paw.
Why Your Dogs Paw Is Swollen After An IV!
We have our short list of the more common causes of swelling in a dogs paw after an IV below:-
- Inflammation!
- Pressure From A Bandage!
- Infection!
- Injury!
- Complications!
The most common cause of swelling in a dog’s paw after an IV is due to inflammation around the IV area with this not usually being a serious issue.
In other cases, the less common, often more serious issues may be the cause of the swelling in your dog’s paw though.
As some of these can be serious issues, especially if they are left to develop, we would recommend that you always take your dog for a check up with a vet.
Inflammation!
The most common cause of swelling in a dog’s paw after an IV is down to inflammation and this is usually not a serious issue.
The area around the IV will often become inflamed as the body reacts to the foreign object and this is perfectly normal.
This inflammation should start to go down within a day or two and, in most cases, will not cause any lasting effects.
However, if the swelling does not start to go down or gets worse, then you should take your dog to see a vet as this could be a sign of a more serious issue.
Pressure From A Bandage!
One of the most common mistakes that people make when they are dressing their dog’s paw is that they wrap the bandage too tight.
This can often be the case if you are using an elastic bandage as they have a tendency to shrink when they are applied.
If the bandage is too tight, then it will cut off the circulation to the paw which can cause swelling.
To avoid this, you should always make sure that the bandage is not too tight and that you can still slide a finger under it.
If you are unsure, then it is always better to err on the side of caution and use a slightly loose bandage as this will be much better for your dog.
Infection!
Another potential cause of swelling in your dog’s paw after an IV is an infection.
This is usually only the case if the IV was not placed properly or if the area around the IV was not cleaned properly before the treatment.
If you think that there may be an infection, then you should take your dog to see a vet as soon as possible as this can be a serious issue if it is left untreated.
Injury!
Another potential cause of swelling in your dog’s paw after an IV is an injury.
This is usually only the case if the IV was not placed properly or if the area around the IV was not cleaned properly before the treatment.
If you think that there may be an infection, then you should take your dog to see a vet as soon as possible as this can be a serious issue if it is left untreated.
Complications!
In some rare cases, there may be complications with the IV which can cause swelling in your dog’s paw.
This is usually only the case if the IV was not placed properly or if the area around the IV was not cleaned properly before the treatment.
If you think that there may be an infection, then you should your dog to see a vet as soon as possible as this can be a serious issue if it is left untreated.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a number of potential causes of swelling in your dog’s paw after an IV and, in most cases, it is nothing to worry about.
However, if the swelling does not start to go down or gets worse, then you should take your dog to see a vet as this could be a sign of a more serious issue.
If you are ever unsure, then it is always better to err on the side of caution and take your dog to see a vet.
