Click to Skip Ahead Anatomy of a Dog Paw What to Do If you Stepped on Your Dog’s Paw What Happens if My Dog Has a Broken Bone? We’ve all been there—you walk across the room, only to accidentally step on your dog’s paw in the process. Maybe they yelp and withdraw, only increasing your guilt for the accidental slight. In some cases, your dog may continue to act a little “off” toward you for a period of time. There’s also a possibility that your dog will limp, yelp, or lick their foot which are all signs of pain. After all, we are (usually) much larger than our dogs, so of course stepping on their paw can be painful! The consequences of a stepped on paw can range from recovering pretty quickly without ill effect to a broken bone and other damage. Read on to learn what you should do when you step on your dog’s paw. The Anatomy of the Paw Here we give a run down on the anatomy of dogs paws so that you can understand the areas and parts that can be injured. The make up of a dog’s paw is very similar to the human hand. On the front and hind paws, dogs have 4 main weight-bearing toes (digits) which are each made up of three small bones (phalanges). Most dogs also have an extra smaller digit higher up on the inside of their front paws, called a dew claw. Some dogs have hind dew claws or even double dew claws. All these digits end in a nail and contain sensitive tissue called the quick. The bones within the body of the paw are named the metatarsals (back leg) and metacarpals (front leg) and the paw ends at the joint called the carpus (wrist) of the front legs or tarsus (hock) of the back legs. The paw has nerves and vessels that travel through to each digit, as well as tendons above and below each digit. On the upper surface, the paws are covered by skin and hair, and on the underside, there are spongy paw pads to cushion them. Any and all of these structures can be injured if you accidentally step on your dog’s paw. Image Credit: LUM3N, Pixabay Stepped on Your Dog’s Paw? Here’s What to Do 1. Reassure Them When you step on your dog’s paw it can come as a shock to you both. Reassure them that you’re not angry with them, and that you did not intend to hurt them. You can do this by speaking in a high-pitched voice and giving them pats. You can try to make your dog forget all about it by distracting them with a nice treat. Image Credit: Bogdan Sonjachnyj, Shutterstock 2. Evaluate the Paw Firstly look at the paw from a distance- is it hanging abnormally or obviously broken? Look at how your dog is moving. Are they putting weight on their paw? Are they limping? When vets look at injuries, not wanting to use the leg at all is considered to be more severe than something that just causes a mild limp, although both show that your dog is in pain. It may be necessary to protect yourself while examining your dog’s feet, if you believe it necessary at this next stage then pop a muzzle on your dog. If your dog is walking quite well and is fine with you touching their feet, examine their paw up close. If they don’t allow you to look at the paw, this could be a sign that it is painful for them. Remember to not force them, as they may bite due to pain. Look for external wounds. Anything more than a graze will need veterinary treatment but if there is a minor abrasion that does not break the skin, you can treat this with a dog-safe antiseptic. Check for any torn nails, then examine and feel each digit from the nail up, moving the joints as you go. If your dog reacts painfully, you notice any swelling, or there are bones obviously out of alignment, go to the vet. You may need to recheck the paw a few times over a period of a couple of hours to evaluate for any swelling, redness, or tenderness. 3. Call the Vet Your veterinarian will be your first port of call for any injuries sustained to your dog’s foot. After checking the paw to the best of your ability give the veterinary clinic a call and they will guide you as to if an appointment is necessary. If your dog is experiencing any limping, tenderness, swelling, or redness, or seems to be excessively licking their paw, then you should contact your vet. Depending on the severity of your dog’s discomfort and swelling, they may want to do an X-ray to ensure nothing is broken or otherwise damaged. If there are no fractures, your dog may need some anti-inflammatories or another type of pain relief medication. They can also treat breaks in the skin with stitches, topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, bandaging, or other treatments as appropriate. Image Credit: SeventyFour, Shutterstock 4. Try a Cool Pack Remember to always follow the guidance of your vet above all else, so when you call them, ask them if they feel like it’s appropriate to use a cool pack on your dog’s paw. Frozen vegetables, ice packs, and even washcloths soaked in cold water are all good options for helping to reduce swelling to your dog’s paw in the acute phase of the injury. Always ensure there is a layer of material between the cold pack and your dog’s paw, though! Dogs can experience pain and even frostbite from having something frozen pressed directly against their skin for too long. Instead, opt for wrapping the cold pack in a tea towel or washcloth. What Happens if My Dog Has a Broken Bone? Your vet may determine from X-rays that your dog has broken (fractured) one or more bones in the paw, and provide a treatment plan. For noncomplicated breaks, conservative treatment options like splints, bandages, or casts may be appropriate to support the paw until the bones heal. For more complicated breaks or multiple bones affected, surgical plating may be recommended. In both cases, you can expect vet follow-up visits to change the dressing and monitor the paw. Repeat X-rays are often recommended to monitor the healing progress. In Conclusion Try not to feel too bad if you step on your dog’s paw! It can be easy to put a lot of blame on yourself for this type of accident, but the more stressed and upset you are, the more stressful the situation will be for your pup. Stay calm and reasonable after you step on your dog’s paw, providing them with a positive distraction from the event. Check the paw over if possible and contact your veterinarian if your dog needs further care.  In the case of actual damage to the foot, your vet is the best resource to guide you in how to properly care for your dog’s injured paw. Sources https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/emergencycare/first-aid-tips-pet-owners https://www.animalsurgicalcenter.com/fractures-of-the-paw-bones-metacarpals-and-metata https://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2013/april/how-to-take-care-of-your-pets-minor-wounds-30187 https://www.vin.com/apputil/project/defaultadv1.aspx?pid=14365&catid=&id=7259321&meta=&authorid= https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/digit-amputation-dogs   Featured Image Credit: Te9l, Shutterstock The post I Stepped on My Dog’s Paw, What Should I Do? Vet Answer appeared first on PangoVet.

The Biden-Harris administration’s foreign policy has a glaring double standard between how it treats Ukraine and Israel. When it comes to Ukraine, they have complete moral clarity: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim, and the United States must do everything in its power to support Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty — even if that means handing over tanks, missiles, and fighter jets with no questions asked. The United States has sent over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion with no end in sight. Dismissing the risk of escalating into World War III, Joe Biden keeps pushing forward, pledging more resources and weapons to a conflict that has already brought us closer to nuclear war than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis. If we’re going to give Ukraine a blank check to defend its sovereignty, then Israel deserves nothing less. Now, compare the administration’s posture toward Israel, where things suddenly get complicated. Instead of providing unflinching support to Israel — a nation facing daily attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists funded by Iran — the Biden team cuts funding, pushes for ceasefires, and moralizes over Israel’s every move. We’re told that diplomacy and restraint are the only acceptable options for Israel while Ukraine gets a pass to defend itself in any way it sees fit. When Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Congress, he’s met with standing ovations and massive arms shipments. But when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United States in July, half of the Democrats in Congress refused to even attend his address, with some like Rep. Rashida Tlaib calling him a “war criminal” and accusing him of genocide. Why does Ukraine deserve a blank check while Israel is treated like a problem child? It’s not just hypocrisy — it’s an agenda. The Biden-Harris administration, along with much of the radical left, seems to have a real problem with Israel defending itself. Casualties in Gaza are tracked meticulously and condemned while the human toll in Ukraine is barely mentioned. The corporate left-wing media has no trouble backing Ukraine’s right to exist and fight off Vladimir Putin, but it applies a completely different standard to Israel, even though both nations are fighting for survival against forces that want to wipe them off the map. The reason? Israel happens to be the homeland of the Jewish people, and a lot of folks on the left still have a problem with that. The administration’s double standard is a slap in the face to one of our closest allies, and it reveals just how far they’ll go to coddle Iran and other hostile actors while throwing Israel under the bus. Putin is an evil dictator, and no one wants Russia to march through Ukraine or the rest of Europe. But if we’re going to give Ukraine a blank check to defend its sovereignty, then Israel deserves nothing less. Instead of undermining our ally, the Biden administration should be providing Israel with the same unflinching support that it gives Ukraine. Anything less is not only a betrayal of our values, but it’s also a dangerous gamble with the future of the Middle East. We shouldn’t expect anything different from a Harris-Walz administration. Harris has purposefully been evasive on questions regarding Israel while catering to the Democratic Party’s pro-Hamas wing. This administration is what Iran is banking on. If we fail to stop Iran and its proxies now, the consequences will be far more catastrophic than anything happening in Eastern Europe. Want more from Glenn Beck? Get Glenn's FREE email newsletter with his latest insights, top stories, show prep, and more delivered to your inbox.

While the left continues to campaign for the right of delusional men to compete in women’s sports, there are several strong female athletes fighting it. Riley Gaines is one of them. “The former University of Kentucky swimmer, the superstar conservative outspoken Christian woman — she’s got to be the Rosa Parks of this,” Jason Whitlock of “Fearless” tells Jill Savage and Matthew Peterson of “Blaze News Tonight.” Whitlock believes that brave women like Gaines have helped inspire boycotts like the one going on with the San Jose State women’s volleyball team, which features a man as its best player. “There’s been a series of four universities that have refused to play against this San Jose State team, and I believe Riley Gaines, being the outspoken leader, kind of sparked this boycott,” Whitlock says, noting that he also believes “the advent and popularity” of Caitlin Clark have also inspired young women to take a stand. “She hasn’t taken a strong position, but to see a woman this dominant in the sports arena and become the biggest star in American sports, I think, has inspired women and maybe helped young women realize the importance of protecting their own space,” he explains. Whitlock also credits Sage Steele and Samantha Ponder with giving young women the strength to fight back. “Two women that had big careers at ESPN, stood out there and basically said, ‘Hey, I think it’s important to protect women in these sports deals.’ Ended up losing their jobs at ESPN,” he explains. “I compare Riley Gaines to Rosa Parks, I compare Sage Steele and Samantha Ponder to John Carlos and Tommy Smith, the guys that raised their fist in the Olympics, and I compare Caitlin Clark to Jackie Robinson.” “It’s just a common-sense issue that I think takes the scales off people’s eyes, and you can see what the other side represents: total chaos and insanity,” he adds. Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

A gutsy motorist faced down a gun-toting carjacker in Maryland earlier this week and successfully fought back with his bare hands. Anne Arundel County Police said a male brandishing a firearm approached a 32-year-old man around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at a Marathon gas station in the 5700 block of Ritchie Highway in Brooklyn Park and demanded his car keys. Brooklyn Park is about 20 minutes south of Baltimore. 'Good. Fight back against thugs.' Police said the victim initially complied but then quickly rushed the suspect, causing him to fall backward, after which the suspect's gun discharged. The bullet struck the windshield of the victim’s vehicle, police said, adding that the suspect then fled the scene on the back of a black moped another unidentified person was driving. Officers conducted a search of the area but couldn't find the suspects, police said, adding that the victim did not report any injuries. Northern District detectives are investigating and request that those with information to contact 410-222-6135 or the Tip Line at 410-222-4700. How are observers reacting? Commenters underneath WMAR-TV's Facebook post about the incident seemed please with the motorist's actions: "Good job," one commenter said. "Tired of criminals terrorizing people." "Good," another user declared. "Fight back against thugs." "Outstanding," another user exclaimed. "The question is: WHY does the average citizen have to even deal with this level of crime???" another commenter wondered. "The wrong 'leaders' and legislators are in office," another user wrote. "The Constitution states that we have a right to protect ourselves, but we also have the right to feel reasonably safe. Maryland residents are being failed miserably and gaslighted." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Beijing's "increasingly dangerous" actions in the South China Sea as he met leaders of the ASEAN bloc in Laos on Friday.

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