MY old girl has been poorly over the last few days with sickness, thought she had a bug.  I started to clean  what I thought was a mucky mark which wasn't budging on Wednesday.  I decided to wet it a little more and i nearly died, her fur and skin lifted and to reveal a sore red mark and green gunk.  Luckily it looked clean.  Mad dash to the vets.  They shaved it around and removed the bad bits, the vet thought it was worse than it was talking about surgery before she had chance to see the area under her fur.

The good news was that it was clean and healthy underneath.  Have got AB's for her and flamazine to put on several times a day after bathing.  It smells still and is raw, it hurts her for me to do it, last night it bought off scab forming skin, which the vet said not to let it scab, i thought scabbing would be better?? for healing.  The mark is on her back just to the side of her shoulders.  She's not one for being mardy or crying but when I do this she does do a little cry and try and move back out of the way.

Has anyone dealt with this before or offer any help on the best way to do it.  The vet said she could have caught her skin and muck got in, she does like to roll on her back and kick her legs still.  i wondered if her age had anything to do with it, thinning skin like elderly people get or if it was something to do with the bladder cancer, which she has done brilliantly with and gone over the time scale.

I thought we were reaching the end with her due to the sickness if it wasn't a bug  but I'm woindering if this could have made her feel/be poorly.  She has picked up a little with her eating but not how I'd like it to be.  I did speak to the vet about PTS we'll assess it on Monday to see if she picks up.  The good news is she not in pain with her cancer or legs so we're able to see if she improves thank god.

Sorry for rambling, if i think too much about it I can't get anything down to ask.

I'm afraid I think her age and general state of health will be inhibiting healing.
I had to deal with a similar wound when I had a cyst removed from the head of one of my old girls.  It was so difficult for us both I wished I had never had the surgery.
The reason you need to stop it scabbing over is the fact that infection is present and the need to prevent it healing over from the outside rather than inside to the outside and thus trapping pus.
In view of her terminal illness I think I would be thinking hard about how well it seems to be going and whether there is a need now to put you both through this.  You have my sympathy :(

>>The reason you need to stop it scabbing over is the fact that infection is present and the need to prevent it healing over from the outside rather than inside to the outside and thus trapping pus.<br />

i didn't think of that with worrying about her.  luckily she didn't need surgery and i did indicate to the vet to avoid it if possible, she almost 14 1/2 and as you say terminal.  I feel we only have a few weeks to go if that.  She went so rapidly which is why I'm not sure what's causing the sickness.  She picked up on her legs so good she's been jumping out of the car before I could stop her, I can't tell you the last time she did that.  That's I'm thankful for.  I'm seeing how she is over the weekend then try and make a decision.  Its so upsetting just trying to get your head round it, I followed another post with great sadness and understanding of what they were going through.

I do my Reiki on her but even i know it can only make her comfortable at this stage.

As Stooge has said it needs to heal from the inside, the only advice I can add is to prevent pressure on the sore. Does she lay on that side for long, if so she needs to be encouraged to move to another position. What does she lay on, vet bed is good and even better would be a foam mattress underneath so she is not on a hard surface (rather like us sitting on the floor and after a while feeling numb) as her circulation needs to get to the area. Good luck.

You have my sympathies, and I don't envy your decision but on a purely practical note about the wound I wonder whether sugar would help keep it clean and kill bacteria? Recently a few friends have had very good results with this treatment.

>>I wonder whether sugar would help keep it clean and kill bacteria? Recently a few friends have had very good results with this treatment.

Funny enough I thought of putting honey on it.  Its very good for healing ulcers, my friend had an unhealble ulcer on their horse, tried honey it was gone in under a week.  Normally I'd just do things but this is very sore and didn't want to put her through it but might give it a try and stand by with water to clean off if she shows distress.

She has an orthopedic(sp) bed but rarely lies on it, thinking of penning her in round it.  I have a memory foam mattress topper in the loft hubby is getting that down for me tonight to try, its ks so might fill a big enough area for her.  She does seem to know to keep off that side or it hurts?

Thanks for help, I have to put her through a bath of sorts now which I'm not looking forward to doing, she's tinkled on the floor and lay in it the little minx.  I've tried talc before but it doesn't seem to work for me.  My friends lent me a blaster so I can at least dry her quickly and keep away from her back.

Yes, manuka honey is very good too. The king size memory foam topper sounds just the job :-)

I would be inclined to continue with the prescribed Flamazine just now, it is jolly good stuff :)
Dealing with difficult wounds is a very tricky subject, people go on quite intensive courses on the subject learning to balance the need to debride and disinfect with the risk of damage to the very delicate new cells forming. 
It is early days, I would say don't swop and change treatments just yet.

No not done any different as yet, due to what she's going through will carry on like you say.

I thought i was going to lose her earlier, she was shaking so not sure if it was from the cold or her.  Got her warmed/not shaking??  and she had something to eat and appears a little better.  Got some lamb breast in the oven for her as she seems to gobble that up. 

Could the infection be making her ill or part of it?  She went down so quickly like she had the neuro virus being sick at the same time( as we know now) that this started undected.  I know the other condition will be taking its toll.

I do have a feeling we'll lose her over the weekend or I'll have to make the decision for her which so hard but I'm getting meyself prepared.

It is hard :(  I think we have to comfort ourselves that we make these decisions at the expense of our own grief rather than their discomfort.

We get pressure sores when we are very run down and being in the same position for more than a couple of hours,so yes try and put her in a different position every hour or two if poss,I see alot of pressure sores in my Job and district nurses are now using a honey dressing,I would just use what vet prescribed at the mo,as it needs to scab over,what a worry our oldies are,hope this clears up soon,but in humans pressure sores can take months to healI pressume would be the same with our dogs, and they are very painful indeed.

Sheila

I should have recognised the smell, I used to help the nurses when dealing with them, I'm glad it didn't get to the stages i've seen.

She's picked up tonight in herself and enjoyed her lamb, got the AB in her easier tonight.  i am encouraging her to get in other positions and she actually being a little obliging, she a stubbon little madam and i wouldn't have it any other way :)

The sore is very sore for me to touch, earlier I dribbled water over which still hurt some then dabbed the cream on.

did the vet say to dribble water on the wound,as we have to keep wounds dry,rrr your poor girl but with all the good nutrition your giving her this will help it to heal.

Sheila x

They told me to bathe it several times a day, I've tried doing it only twice as it does hurt her,  There was fresh red blood there this morning so I'm thinking this is a good sign.

She picked up last night and even wanted breakfast this morning early.  Not got her painkillers in her today yet.  She loved the lamb.

yes bleeding is a good sign,hopfully it should start going pink around the edges and start to get smaller,so glad she is enjoying her meals,can you not disguise her painkillers in a tasty bit of meat,

Sheila

How is she this morning.

Sheila

Morning, glad to say she is picking up.  I was in tears yesterday as it looked she had had a stroke and I'd have to take her to the vets, she's back to normal today and hugry first thing for a change. 

I left her sore alone yesterday but one of teh puppies cleaned her scab (yuk) before i could stop him, but she was in less pain from that.  i hope it doesn't make him poorly.  They all seem to want to clean it for her.

How old is she and what breed,I would keep on with gentle bathing of the sore.

Sheila

She 14 1/2 almost and a Goldie.  I could barely read Pinky's post last week.

She's definitly picking up, no sickness for a few days and has eaten kibble with her lamb this morning and half a croissant and some treats.  Wherther it last I don't know.  But so far today I haven't got to go to the vets.

Oh dear you must be so upset,as you know I have also lost one of my labs,and of course Pinky'S posts where very upsetting to me also,I am still absolutly heartbroken over Sadie so really do feel for you,the pressure sore would of been making her poorly,but thank goodness she is perking up,the most important thing is to try and not let her lie on that side,put a pillow behind her and take her for little walks if poss even around the house as this aids circulation and promotes healing,

Sheila xx

I've been encouraging her, I did wonder if it was the sore making her poorly (and hoped it was that).  She's trying to kick her legs in the air today and i have to keep her from doing it as she lands on the sore.  We even had a snout rub last night.

I feel for you its heart wrenching.  Thank you for you help.

On sunday we thought this was it, she went quite poorly and we prepared for Monday evening to ease her pain.  Well on Monday once I mustered up the courage to call the vet she started to improve apart from this stroke look.  I explained to the vet, hubby had called them the day before so didn't have to say too much.  Vet checked her and decleared she was ok for now, in no pain and able to manage.  her sore is healing nicely and she's recovering.  The vet said she was ill from the infection, like Annabelle said.  It knocked her for six.  Her 'stroke' was a vestibular event and she can recover from it, she was better on Monday, not great but better.  Once i get her walking she starts to go in a straight line ans long as I'm careful turning her round or on which side she doesn't get the wobbles.

She at this moment, kicking her legs making such a racket and i wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm sure time is still short but not just yet.  I can't tell you the relief after i spent nearly two days in floods of tears.