A grim day for the Olympic View Soccer Team. Just 3 days after finally getting their new ball -- they killed the old one last March -- Al is on the Disabled List with front pad blisters. They're almost 3/8" diameter, right at the front corner of the forefoot main pads, a spot folded out of sight when you look at the unopened pad. Back feet thrusters are OK except for some thin toe pads, so I think it's fast braking and turning that does this. We play on a paved surface, usually with no problem. The first day was in the rain, and so was the last time he got a great big flapper, so wet pavement might be significant. Slipping?
Gwynnie never has this problem. Is Al a tenderfoot? I think it's his ferocious style of play. He accelerates like a rocket, frantically athletic. Give Al a soccer ball, and it's frapping on speed. Gwynnie is sedate by comparison. Feeding softball passes to Gwynnie past Big Al the Ball Hog is a challenge.
I washed his pads by having him stand in a small wash basin with warm water and soap. Final cleanse with Betadine. I'll report on how fast this heals.
Note where the damage is. This is from (wet?) pavement. In the snow, it was different, he was sore on the soft skin right behind the toe pads, and I think the loose sand on the desert roads did the same last March.
If anybody has experience dressing this sort of problem in the backcountry, when you still have to walk to get out, I'd appreciate your suggestions. This is what I bought the medium Pawz for, but I wonder if they would hold a dressing in place. I have some of this sticky gauze wrap, but haven't practiced with it. I plan to try Musher's Secret also.
With their key starter on the bench, dejected fans hope that Gwynnie can fill in.
Maybe it's time for some easy obedience drills.
The team in the locker room:
Rear feet mostly OK (thin toe pads):
Front corner of front main pads blistered:
Tags:
These are healed lesions I found while routinely clipping claws. I never noticed any limping. Maybe these sorts of lesions are routine and minimal.
Al's front. This was a "flapper"; at the bottom of the blister, you can see where I cut part of the flap away:
Gwynnie's front; this looks like it was a considerable lesion:
These are Gwynnie's rear feet:
Poor Boy. When one of the aussies would get these from running around the pool in summer we would use gym socks taped on with a little medical tape if they were going to go outside. Offers a bit of protection but still breathed.
Ouch. When we play soccer, we usually go to a grassy field. I know that it is getting harder to find soccer fields where dogs are allowed any where near, but maybe if you send these pictures to Seattle Parks they may reconsider. They do allow parents and teenagers at these fields ( who in my opinion leaves the bigger mess). Tennis courts are great for playing ball and soccer. Pavement is usually smoother and that net in the middle makes them think a little.
Austin loves to chase sea gulls at the beach, however. Those pebbles and barnacles cut up his feet and he will not want to walk on pavement for a couple of days afterwards. I have used that sticky gauzy wrap to wrap his feet (over regular gauze first) and now carry that in my pack when we hike.
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