Paw Injury

[jennifert]

My roommate took Duncan yesterday to her camp to go swimming and play. I had to work both my jobs so I was thrilled that she was able to take him as I couldn't stand the thought of him being alone all day and night stuck inside the house while it was sunny and warm outside....
The river where her camp is is infested with zebra mussels. If you're not familiar with these creatures, they are little clam-like animals with razor sharp edges. There can be hundreds of them covering one cinder-block sized rock. Her father built a ramp for the dogs to get in and out of the water without having to step on the zebra mussels as both Jack and Duncan had cuts on the pads of their feet last summer. I came home from work last night and Kate had brought Duncan home and gone back to camp with Jack. Duncan was acting a little strange last night, breathing heavy but not panting and he seemed uncomfortable? I sat up with him until he fell asleep and seemed to be sleeping soundly. This am I got up to take him out and he was limping.... I looked at his back paw and there is a cut between the two largest pads. It doesn't look deep or even like that serious of a cut, more like a scrape but it seems to be bothering him more than a cut of that size should....Could it be the location of the cut that is so difficult? Or maybe it cut the webbing between his toes? I couldn't get a really good look at... I put some triple antibiotic on it. I didn't see any blood in the house or when he walked. He was licking it so much.
Duncan is a trooper. I have seen him with larger nicks and scrapes and cuts and I have never seen him limp....And he was just overall acting strange.....
I'm sure he's fine. I'm just a huge worrywart!! Especially when he was out of my sight for a whole day...And then I watch Emergency Vets and see all those dogs who have to have major surgery on their pads.....YIKES!!
He's at home today with both tvs on and the fans blowing on him....I hope when I get home he'll be cheery and back to normal!!