Liquid bandage might work. Boots won't last long on big dogs.

Liquid bandage stings & don’t think it’s meant to be applied over ointment. Wouldn’t use this human grade medicine without asking Vet. I’d try a baby sock over the foot every time Oski needs to go out - may need to secure it with a tie of some kind. I’d also guess that no unsupervised visits outside are in order & she may need to be on a leash. That’s a pain but we had to do that for a couple weeks when our little dog was under orders for limited activity - she's a running & jumping doggie. I’m guessing your white dog icon is Oski. I hope hercone is the newer kind that looks like a doughnut not the old plastic cone!

Vet wrap. The human version is pretty much just self stick ace bandage. Probably easier to get at any Walmart, Target, drugstore etc. if you don't have vet wrap on hand. Wrap far enough up the leg so it doesn't come off easily. If you don't want to wrap the whole foot then use a baby or child's sock and attach it with the wrap.

There are also these but a bit pricier.

Paw Bandage

Petsmart has MX liquid bandage for dogs. You could google liquid bandage for dogs.

My son's dog had situation of cut/wound/infection between two front toes and it was imperative that it be kept clean until skin healed. They used several different thick dog socks that fit snug, people socks, sometimes wrapped with that sticky tape, sometimes using plastic over it and only using a clean covering. He went outside only on a leash, was not allowed to dig or tear around the yard with their other dog. It was really hard to keep it clean and dry and keep the dog from going nuts. The vet warned that he could loose the toes/paw. It was spring, wet, and they had construction going on in back yard. I think the colicky baby was easier to deal with. Bless them, they probably cried a few times but after a month the area healed and he's fine now. Good luck, hang in there, Oski will thank you for saving the toes.

For trips outside, would put paw in small thick plastic bag (Ziploc freezer type) to keep area clean & dry and cover with vet wrap to keep plastic intact and secure; remove once indoors.

Liquid bandage type solutions will prevent topical meds from penetrating area and make them ineffective.

It's a pain to deal with for sure! My dog is always having some issue to deal with...HAHA...just recently she hurt a toe when she stumbled on a step and then she started licking it because it hurt and then it got raw. I used small socks, children's size, I had made some straps with velcro(from earlier issues) to hold them on but she still wanted to lick at it and the sock would get all wet. I then took a disposable glove and turned it inside out and put that over it and that stopped her licking. I also used a cone so it could get aired out and dry up but she would somehow manage to lick it by propping her paw up on something, she's clever! HA! So I only used the cone if I was there to keep an eye on her. She would leave it alone with the sock and glove bandage. Finally it healed up. If you can't make a velro strip, just use the medical bandage tape, that works OK. I think I got the low adhesive type so I could take it off and put it back on easily. OH and for outside, for sure you would want to limit going outside so she doesn't dig and make it worse, use the plastic glove to keep it clean. Anyway, this is what helped for us....HTH

Thank you all for the great suggestions. It really helps me focus on what is needed to get through this. I don't mind it uncovered inside, but yes outside it has to be covered and supervised. I've ordered the inflatable cone, coming today. He currently has a sock on his foot secured with wide masking tape. It "fell off." I put it back on. If that doesn't work, we'll get one of the suggestions offered here. He acts depressed but will be ok.

Oski is a 12-year old Westie, 16 lbs.

Again, thank you all so much!

What? A Westie dug in the DIRT! Quelle suprise.

You're a good fur-mama, socks. Haha, you ARE 'socks'! Oski will cheer up once the sore paw heals.

Poor Oski & poor you worrying about him. If only they could speak! It’s no surprise he’s acting a bit down - who wouldn’t be that way when having to wear those cones? I’m happy to read you’ve ordered the newer, kinder cone - I’m betting it’ll perk little Oski roght up!

Right, Chisue! We walked this morning and his sock got wet and filthy, so we'll try a sock/plastic bag combo next time. Injury still a bit raw and open, so important at this point to keep clean. This is a work in progress.

Fred looks very stoic. Poor guy. Hope he has a speedy recovery and a positive prognosis

KW this dog is so strong, The vet we go to handles police digs and said he reminds of them.

Fred and Oski on the Sick List! Anyone else? Hope your dear pup fully recovers and the cancer is all gone. How old is Fred?

He was a rescue, so nit sure of exact age. We have him 10 years, so either 11 or 12.

The vet said all is clear on the cancer.

Friday we go to get removed and then no more cone!

One of our dog park regulars was out for a while and she was back yesterday so I asked "where have y'all been?" She was telling us that her dog had this hot spot on his front leg and he kept gnawing it then it got infected so they had to go to the vet to the tune of $400, he got shots and antibiotics etc. The most important thing was that she had to keep the sore DRY! That is why he couldn't go to the dog park, it's always wet on the grass out there because it's super humid in Ohio! So, advice from the vet is to definitely keep it dry!

OMG there's a learning curve to this!! We left him alone a few hours yesterday, and the pulled sock off and licked the wound back to Square 1 condition. I spent $500 on him last month at the vet, not including the e-collars, boots. I guess the biggest problem is he likes to go run with buddies in the mornings (wet grass, etc.), and any sock or plastic bag falls off. @arkansas girl About that disposable glove....not sure why you had to turn inside out. What happens to all the fingers?

On my way to CVS to get kids' socks.

OH yeah, when I turn it inside out, the fingers are inside and not hanging out. What did you use to hold the sock on with? They are clever! HAHA! You may have to use a cone or something like a cone.

Socks, our vet was very firm in telling us to cone on. When he had dental work with our vet up north, they gave him a huge hard plastic cone. For what what ever reason, the dental work did not bother him so we removed the cone.

But, in this case, he could reach the stitches on the side as well leg.

When we gave him breaks, I sat by him.

This cone didn't seem to bother him, it bothered us more! It seemed to be fitted for him it is soft.

As it turned out, we went in for the eye lid tumor and decided get the other growths taken care of.

The vet took very margins. As it out, the leg tumor cancerous. But because if how she did it, all clear.

Fred is back his usual routine.

Can you get a cone similar to what Fred had?

I see, Arkansas. Thanks. That probably works better than a plastic bag, more to the size of a dog's foot. I hold the sock on with painters' tape but got some self sticking first aid tape today.

Eld, yes, I have a cone like that, also the inflatable kind. When we are home, he hasn't been wearing the cone, just a sock held on with masking tape. He leaves it alone when we are home with him. We left him with just the sock when we went out, so that's when he took the sock off and went to work. From now on, he will wear the cone when we leave and when we are home if he starts removing the sock. Thanks for the help, and so nice to have your dear boy back to normal. Oh, I also got a boot which velcros on so maybe that will work when he plays with friends. It's his and my social outlet, and we hate to miss it.

I know I'm overthinking this but will get things figured out in time. Thank you all for suggestions.

Vets use this (pictured in above post) to cover bandages, also available at Walgreens etc. It stretches and sticks to itself; much better than tape.

It is hard to deny our darling pets things they love but sometimes it is better for them to experience short term deprivations to ward off serious long term problems. Pets can become addicted to the licking and might continue after you get the original wound healed. I would curtail the romping with friends until after this heals up. That is just me. Most of my experience is with cats but I know it is a problem with dogs as well.

Don't let him go outside alone.