My dogs foot

Question
My bischons front paw seems to be bothering him alittle.  Thought he jumped off bed, & landed on it wrong last night. It seems better after resting it for the night.  I tried to see exactly where it was bothering him & it looks like its his footpad.  Thats only place he showed some discomfort. Theres no abrasion or irritations anywhere on his leg or foot. Hes overdue for a grooming & i wondered if maybe he got some hair caught between his pad.

Answer
Hi Lauren,

You should certainly check between your dog's foot pads to rule out that possibility, but usually the only time you need to trim the hair between the pads is when there is ice or snow outside. Be sure to examine the nails too, to make sure one isn't split.

Because your dog's injury seems to have come on soon after he jumped off your bed, there's a pretty good chance that your dog hurt his foot, or sprained his ankle or elbow when he landed. You didn't say how old your dog is, but the older your dog is, the more of a chance that he will injure himself when jumping off furniture. It can really help to keep a small stool near your bedside, and teach your dog use it to hop up and down from the bed (or any furniture where he spends time). You can also buy special steps or ramps for this purpose:

http://www.yourpetramp.com/

If you can't determine what the problem is, and the problem goes on for several days, then it's time to see your vet. Not all limps are caused by injuries. Pets that have been bitten by ticks may develop Lyme disease, and limping, or a reluctance to move is a symptom of that.

Best of luck,
Patti