While walking Harry through town, I noticed the area was scattered with glass shards. This is extremely dangerous for dogs, as their paws are unprotected and very sensitive, and even small pieces of glass can cause painful cuts or injuries.
A dog’s safety and welfare are always my highest priority. Protecting them from harm is essential, so as soon as I realised Harry was at risk of stepping on the glass, I immediately placed him on a short lead and turned us around to avoid the route altogether.
Once we reached a safe, quiet area, I first took time to calm and reassure Harry before checking his paws. Many dogs dislike having their feet touched- especially if they are feeling stressed or potentially injured- and they can become defensive. Moving slowly and calmly helps build trust and keeps the dog relaxed.
I carefully checked his front paws first, examining between each toe for any signs of blood, cuts, or tiny glass shards. Thankfully, there were none. I then moved on to his back paws. One was completely clear, but Harry became defensive when I checked his back right paw. Rather than pushing him, I gave him a short break to reassure him and allow him to relax before trying again.
After a few minutes, I gently rechecked the paw while continuing to reassure him, and it was also clear of any injury. I praised Harry throughout the process to reinforce that he was safe and that my handling wasn’t going to hurt him.
After the paw checks, I observed his walk carefully to make sure it was normal and that there was no limping, which could indicate a hidden injury. His movement was completely normal, and he was soon back to being the happy boy he usually is.
Once I was confident that Harry was safe and comfortable, we were able to continue the rest of our walk as normal.