So, I get up and get ready to take the dogs for their walk. It’s cold out, forty-four (44) degrees F (6.7 C) and the dogs are all kinds of revved up. Put them in a little cold weather and it’s like someone throws a switch to take them from nice, comfortable dogs to wild, energetic beasts.
Things went well for Major Tom and Sirocco, although both had to spend extra time sniffing around the front lawn and eating grass. Most likely a rabbit or groundhog (or possibly even a deer) was wandering around the front yard and they caught scent of its trail.
I got Magdalena ready. She actually got into her harness with little resistance. Kind of unusual for her.
I opened the gate and we were off. (We were leaving too! Ba dum dum. Thank you. I’ll be here all week. Be sure to tip the waitstaff).
Things started off fine but when we hit the end of the driveway Magdalena let out a yelp. She started limping with her front right foot.
I tried to get her to stop so I could check her paw to see if maybe she cut it on something, or got something stuck in it, but once she gets started, she doesn’t stop unless she has to potty or is sniffing at something in the ground. She didn’t do that until almost the midpoint of the walk.
When she stopped I tried to lift her paw but she wouldn’t hold still long enough for me to grab it. Any time I made a move to try to lift it she’d move away.
I went ahead and finished the walk then got her back into the house. Once inside she was a little easier to handle as she was tired after walking.
I got her to lie down on the floor, which only made the other two dogs come over. They figured she was getting attention so they should get some attention too. After giving them sufficient pets, they settled down.
I got ahold of Magdalena’s front right paw and looked it over. I couldn’t see any obvious injuries or anything stuck in or between the pads. I lightly bent her paw and she didn’t show any sign of distress. She rested most of the morning, sometimes getting up to move. She’d whine a little but wouldn’t let me near her paw again.
Later in the day she seemed better. She was running though the house and roughhousing with Sirocco as always so I guess she is better.
Not sure what happened this morning. I looked around the area where she first yelped but didn’t find anything that would have been likely to injure her, just grass and a few pebbles. Maybe a pebble got stuck between her pads and fell out later?
I’ll keep an eye on her over the next few days and if she shows any further signs of distress I’ll take her to the vet.
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