Yeaterday tea time I didn't get my usual cocker spaniel Alfie welcome-he was out in the back garden and I thought he hadn't come to the gate as he maybe wasn't wise to my new car's (1 day old) engine. He lay on the door mat at the back door or outside while I made tea, but he likes the cool in the doorway sometimes. I was out in the evening and my OH reported nothing untoward and he's often quiet by bedtime. This morning he's distinctly not his usual bubbly self and one front paw is very wet where he's been licking at it a lot. He's so hairy just now (trim due Thurs) that it's very hard to find the paw, let alone anything amiss. He wasn't pulling it away when I tried to look, but is a very complient boy. He seems obsessed with the gravel in the corner under our arbour but I can't see what's keeping him there.He's been sitting upright on the grass (in the rain) with that pleading look in his eyes and worryingly is NOT barking at the cat next door which he normally does incessantly until he gets called in for a 'good boy' treat. He's eaten his breakfast, though not with his usual enthusiasm, and stopped to lick at the paw midway. I can't help but think it's to do with his paw, and think there's maybe something quite nasty there to make him behave so below par. He's walking normally on it, apart from stopping to lick it, claws feel OK and no signs of blood. Any ideas?
