Sedbergh dog owner's warning after cut almost 'sliced off paw pad'

Sophie Shenton was walking her four-year-old Cockerdor Ben with her partner Paul at Settlebeck Gill that runs off the Howgill Fells on Monday afternoon (September 11). Ben jumped into a plunge pool that he usually loves to play in but when he came back out he had a nasty injury. 

Sophie said: "He is a lovely family pet and he likes nothing better than playing in the water. There's a small stream called Settlebeck Gill which runs alongside the footpath up to Winder Fell.

"At the junction of the path to Thorns Lane there is a very small pool which is enjoyed by dogs and kids in summer. It was in there.

"He was playing in a little pond he always plays in but this time he came out with a nasty cut to his pad. It was possibly glass. The vet has glued and bandaged it and he now has to rest for a fortnight. 

"He’s now feeling rather sorry for himself. Poor lad."

Ben was taken to Farm Gate vets on Long Lane and under strict advice from the vet is now not allowed any walkies for two weeks while he recovers. Sophie and Paul have provided him with a licky pad to keep him entertained however their pet cat Bob keeps teasing him with the cat flap. 

Sophie added: "He doesn't understand why we're not taking him out for walks with us whenever we leave the house.

"His first bandage had tractors, the second one had turtles on and he's now back at the vets as we speak for bandage number three. 

"We don't know for sure whether it was glass in the pond, but it was a very deep and clean cut that sliced his pad almost off. I think it's worth people being cautious for a few days in that area, just in case."

The exact location of the site where Ben was injured is on the map above with grid reference 54.32810943510742, -2.5225273889410276.