One of our boys has just come through a difficult 15 days since he gashed his foot in the river chasing a duck. The vet took 10 staples out this morning, the wound is still seeping slightly and he may well lose the pad. He has started on antibiotics again today just in case. I want him to be able to get out on a lead but I'm not happy about taking him through fields or on the road while his foot needs to heal. Can anyone please comment on or recommend a dog boot? The waterproof boots might be inappropriate if the wound needs to breathe--appreciate any advice or experience you've had with similar.

thanks very much on Jack's behalf :)

When my dog had surgery on one of his feet, the vet gave me a 'saline drip bag', which had holes cut in the top and bandage threaded through. The bag was very thick plastic and we slipped it over his foot when we took him out walking and removed it on our return. I must admit that I was sceptical that he would keep it on, but he did and it served it's purpose :)

hi, thanks--that's exactly what we've used for the past 15 days. They do work well with a bandage, but with the bandage off I think he could do with something a bit more breathable and padded. The drip bag ties tend to get caught in his feathering and it drops slightly, which then gives him the gait of a seal as he throws his leg out :)

Ahhh the nightmare of pad cuts! My Flat Coat cut his rear pad on glass on the day we were going on a walking holiday. :( Not fun.He is still bandaged up and we hope the dressing will come off on Saturday (2 weeks after his op). The vet said then to only walk him on soft ground. To be honest, we bought a little dog boot for over the bandage and it was rubbish, not at all waterproof. :-(
If the wound is weeping, I would be wary of walking him at all to be honest. Perhaps best to wait another few days, if you have waited this long? What did the vet say?

Thanks Ramble. Today is actually day 17, now that I've looked at it on the calendar...

The vet said that the wound was largely healed but that there was some oozing between two toes--it had been healing very well, but we think he may have opened it up a bit when a friend of mine came out to the car to see Jack and he went mad trying to get to her, caught his paw in a lead and...OW! But he was fine 2 minutes later walking on it  (and we know he is a bit of a wimp really) so I decided not to rush him then and there to the vet. I have been keeping an eye out for any smell, chewing, swelling or heat in the limb--but he's been been fine. The vet thinks the oozing between two toes may caused by this leaping about, or could even be a reaction to the staples being in for so long. He reckons it's better 'in the air' than bandaged--the pad will slough off, and is halfway gone already. The advice I had was to take him for gentle walks on a lead for the next week and to come back in two weeks to see how he gets on. I'll bathe the foot in saline for the next few days. Jack gets carried down the stairs :)

Oh bless him. My naughty muppet decided to take himself off for 5 minutes the other day and pull off the end of his dressing, complete with a couple of stitches!!! My vet said he is her nightmare dog to have to keep a dressing on as he is young, lively and clever! She said he's at the point where it doesn't feel sore so he wants it off...naughty boy.
How about a sock with a poo bag over it? would that work? We have a sock over the dressing (which he pulled off pre dressing eating ) then we tie a couple of poo bags over that when he goes out to pee etc? We've been told once the dressing is off we should only walk him on soft ground for a few days.
It's a nightmare isn't it?

the sock and poo bag...sounds like a pub! But it's a good idea for tomorrow's walk, thanks Ramble--hope your boy recovers soon

I've found poo bags rip too easily, and make the paws sweat. Drip bags the same and dog boots all fall off. The best thing I've used is a 'porelle dry' waterproof sock. You can buy them at outdoor shops, ebay etc and they're completely waterproof but feel nice and are breathable. I've had one for years that I've used for countless cut paws and operations. Just wrap a bit of micropore tape over the sock to hold it on.

Thanks Tigger2, much appreciated

Just an idea.When I had a GSD that sliced a paw I used an old sock,but obviously not waterproof.Now I have my own personal injured hands and thighs due to an unfortunate incident,i have to keep my skin grafts dry and well padded.I use a cotton wool padding and cling film.The cling film adheres to itself and is fairly waterproof and is easy to get off.Just a thought :)

It's a good idea! :-) Infact one of the vets that did a dressing change suggested it come to think of it and I had forgotten as it was when we were away last week (don't ask) and we didn't have any cling film. She did say to take it off as soon as we came in as it would make the wound sweat.

Too late to edit original post, but these are the socks I use...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BNWT-Porelle-drys-100-Waterproof-Thermal-socks-/190428278073?pt=UK_Cycling_Clothing#ht_754wt_1057

thanks everybody for your suggestions...Jack will be going for a very sedate walk on a lead today round the park--his first in the best part of three weeks :)

Everyone, may all our wounds, dogs and folks, heal swiftly and completely, I feel sorry to raise our little problems in the light of your injuries cornishmals--hope you are getting better now x

Thanks,Thigh is dry and stitches looking good and arm healing.Just my hand,supposed to keep it up in a sling - but with a large family of dogs and 2 pupsters - I think not LOL.Seeing the consultant next Weds so hopefully the plastic surgery went well and stitches can all come out.Then its a wait for the nerve graft.Can't wait until I can drive again.My Dads driving is awful.Everytime someone honks their horn or sticks their fingers up at his random driving he thinks they are being friendly.....Sigh......

Just had a look at what you have been through, what a nightmare, I am sending you lots of healing vibes x

Hope your boy enjoys his walk...I dream sometimes that my boy would do anything 'calmly'..... :-)

Everytime someone honks their horn or sticks their fingers up at his random driving he thinks they are being friendly

LOL--are you sure we're not related somehow? The driving gene clinches it for me. This was my father's attitude to a T.

ive used pawz direct boots.they look like little balloons and although advertised  as disposable,last for many walks.They are waterproof,but you have to pull them on and off,which might not be too good with an injury.Ive used them over socks and bandages,and they come in different sizes.Good luck!

> Just wrap a bit of micropore tape over the sock to hold it on.

Top tip, ditch the Micropore and get MeFix you can buy it in Boots (they stock if for the nursing homes etc) It's brilliant stuff I have it in my Medics kit for work but use it on the dogs too :-) Holds tight and is breathable.

Tara had a really serious injury to her paw six years ago (long story)losing a toe, it's pad and the large pad. While her paw was bandaged - several months, we used freezer bags taped round for walks. Once the bandage came off, I didn't use any protection (I had tried a boot but it didn't work for several reasons). Fortunately, she hopped mostly, not putting the foot down a lot, for many months so the paw didn't get too dirty. Her paw was rinsed in a bowl of warm, salty water after every walk. The large pad has partially regrown after many years which does give some protection, she can walk/run on grass now without a problem, but still has problems wth hard ground.

Daisy

Thank you all, you stars you!!!

The MeFix is going straight in the first aid bx tomorrow :)

Jack has lost about half the pad off his second toe, and so far the rest of it seems to hold. He had his first walk in the park today. I took them to a new park so as to avoid any sense of "we know where we're going and we're going there NOW!!!" resulting in a Nantucket sleigh ride for me :)

the grass is like a tablecloth so let him go without a sock today...all the boys stayed on their leads and tails were wagging furiously the whole time. We had just 15 minutes slowly taking it all in, and  it was wonderful :)

Awww glad you had a good walk.
We were back at the vet this morning and my boy had yet another dressing put on as he isn't to be trusted to leave his foot alone...back again on Tuesday and have everything crossed that this time it comes off...

Hi Jay.
Sorry to here ur dogs paw is still poorly, hope he gets better soon.
Surprising how much a dog can actualy get hurt in even when swimming. Blimin ducks causing so much hastle.
Claire.

Hi Ramble, hope your boy is better by Tuesday, watching them every minute isn't easy--we made the mistake of leaving Jack with the others for a couple of hours one day and came back to find he'd proudly chewed the bandage off...*sigh*...

All three are being walked on leads because I can't face Jack's disappointment and struggle with not being allowed to run off free with them. Roll on the end of next week!

sorry this is probably too late for you but may help others searching this forum.
PETSOX is bringing out a new product to go over bandages and casts that is waterproof and breathable have a look at [url=]www.petsox.co.uk [/url] for more info, I believe it is going to be sold through the website and at the vets very soon.
hope your boy is all fixed now and has given up chasing duck.
xxx

hope your boy is all fixed now and has given up chasing duck

thank you vjlshu, he is all healed up now and even my frazzled nerves are improving--mainly because I don't take any of the gang into duck territory :)