Sore on paw

My dog has a sore on her paw. She is on her 2nd round of clavamox. It starts to clear up then gets bad again. Her vet added ciprofloxacin now. He has said if it doesn’t go away by Monday, he wants to do surgery to amputate the toe. I feel this is extreme. It’s going on 4 weeks now. These are the pictures of her paw 1 week apart. Should we trust the vet as the expert or get a 2nd opinion! Top picture is week 2, bottom picture is week 1.

Hello!  The disappointing bit first (although if you're a regular reader, you will be expecting it) - I cannot tell you what to do.  I am not your vet; I have not examined your dog, not felt that toe.  I have not felt the lymph nodes, thought about the history, 'oohed and ahhed' about how I think it's going to behave, whether I could close the wound having amputated or biopsied, how painful I thought it was etc. (although, I have had an ulcer on my toe, so I can make assumptions about the pain even if the patient isn't showing it).  However, I believe that your vet has.  Bone cancer can sometimes present like that, and histology is the way to know for sure.  I can also see that that toe is very sore and not healing easily, and that even if it wasn't a cancer, it doesn't look like an easy fix.  It must be painful.  Removing toes sounds extreme, but dogs cope very well with fewer digits.  Your vets' recommendation didn't surprise me. However, it sounds as though you are still unsure;  still decision-making.  Always involve your vet when this is the case;  they cannot help you if they don't understand that you are not convinced by their proposals.  I have been the vet before, especially back when I still looked about twelve, when owners seemed convinced but then never turned up for the op.  Many times, this would have been to an animal's detriment (many times, I met them again a few weeks later.....)  Better to turn up and explain that you are concerned and your vet may well offer more background information, or a second opinion.  I have called the pathologist in advance before. However, whatever you decide, we would advise against too great a delay in resolving this issue - I cannot do histology or microbiology with my eyes, but there may be some severe differentials.

Sorry!  "Differentials" is vet-speak for 'possible things that it might be.'

Thank you! I appreciate your advice. We have an appointment for a 2nd opinion scheduled for today.