Joe Biden has fractured his foot while playing with one of his dogs, his doctor has announced.
The president-elect twisted his ankle on November 28 when he slipped while with Major, one of his two German shepherds.
Joe Biden visited an orthopedist in Newark, Delaware, a day later “out of an abundance of caution”.
His personal physician, Kevin O’Connor, said initial x-rays did not show an “obvious fracture”, but ordered a more detailed CT scan.
The subsequent scan found that the 78-year-old had suffered “hairline fractures” of two small bones in the middle of his right foot, the doctor said.
Dr. O’Connor said: “It is anticipated that he will likely require a walking boot for several weeks.”
On November 29, President Donald Trump tweeted: “Get well soon!”
Joe Biden, who beat President Trump in November’s election, is due to receive his first presidential daily briefing on November 30. This was made possible by the announcement a week ago that the transition process had begun.
Joe Biden will become the oldest US president to take office after he’s inaugurated on January 20 next year.
Given this, his health is expected to be watched closely by allies and opponents.
Dr. O’Connor described him as “healthy, vigorous” and “fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency” in a medical report released last December.
Joe Biden is set to bring his two German shepherds – Champ and Major – with him to the White House.
The Democrat and his wife, Jill Biden, fostered Major from a dog shelter in Delaware and made his adoption official in November 2018.
Champ lived with the Bidens on Capitol Hill in Washington DC during Barack Obama’s presidency, when Joe Biden was vice-president.
