Poor Cooper - torn pad

[Christina and Cooper plus Benny]

I woke up in the middle of the night to hear Cooper licking his paw. I told him to stop and he did, and I didn't think much more of it. Then this morning, he was at it again, so I had a good look at his paw. He somehow tore his upper pad (not one of the ones that he walks on, but the one way up high by his elbow.) There is a piece of "skin" hanging on about the size of a dime! Pretty much the size of his whole pad! I felt horrible for him! It must have happened yesterday evening when we were out running, because it was very freshly torn, and he had not licked at all yesterday. He found a ball on our run and I threw it for him a bit, and maybe he somehow slid and tore it? Poor guy.
I cleaned it all out with saline, put antibiotic ointment on it and bandaged it up (thank goodness I just had a doggy first aid class last week!) He hasn't touched the bandage! Maybe it feels better bandaged? We go to the vet this afternoon. Hoping he can trim off the hanging piece and make sure it is clean. I feel horrible for not knowing it was torn until this morning! I guess it didn't hurt him too much, as he wasn't licking or anything?

[Christina and Cooper plus Benny]

Oh, and there was no pavement where we were playing so it is really strange that it happened at all. I have no idea how it happened.... The doctor said maybe he scraped it off on a rock in the grass or something? I don't know?

[Christina and Cooper plus Benny]

We just got home from the vet and he said I did great! He trimmed off the piece and gave Coop antibiotics. He didn't even have to clean the owie because I did such a good job! We came home and went for a quick run and now Cooper is resting. It really doesn't seem to be bothering him at all....of course, it's not on one of the pads that he walks on, so that is probably why.
About the pet first aid class - I took it at a local emergency animal hospital here in Portland called Dove Lewis. It was about 2 hours long and very informative. I want to take one that includes actually practicing the CPR on stuffed dogs, but those seem to be hard to find. The class that I took just showed you how, not actual practice. But, I did have my doggie first aid kit all ready and had everything I needed, because I JUST got all the stuff after the class. :)

[Donna K & Quincy]

This happened to Quincy when we played ball on a paved surface. He did it to both paws. I'm thinking it happened when he was putting on the brakes when he over ran the ball. I just cleaned them and he healed quickly in a couple of days. No more playing ball on hard surfaces. Trying to stay out of the mud is not worth it.Hope Cooper is feeling better soon.

[Barb, Murphy, Emmet, & Hudson]

Poor boy!!! How did it go at the vet??

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I hope the Vet was able to get him "fixed up" and that it's feeling better now. Great reminder about the doggie first aid class. That's something I absolutely need to do. Where did you go to take the class? I'm guessing your Vet was very impressed by what you had already done.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

Cooper will be just fine...it's you I'm sending a (((hug)))) to! :)

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Aw.... poor Cooper. He'll be healed up in no time, with a wonderful mommy like you! You did everything just right!

[Karen P]

Poor Cooper. Don't be too hard on yourself. It must not have been bothering him too much or I am sure he would have made sure that you knew about it. Hopefully he feels better soon. Now you have got me thinking I need to research what I need for a doggy first aid kit. I am pretty sure that I am prepared.

[Frannie & Callie]

Poor Cooper! He's lucky to have a Mommy who loves him so much that she took a doggie first aird class!! If Cooper had been in serious pain, he would have (behaviorally) let you know - you did everything right!!!!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

AAAwwww poor Cooper! I hope he is ok :-( Good Luck!! Don't beat yourself up either your a good doodle mommy :-)