On Tuesday my 14month old GSD cut her paw badly.We went to the vets and he said it needed stitches,she had 13.On Wednesday morning she had bitten half the bandage off so back we went to the vets.He just whipped the bandage off and put a sock over her foot(I had covered the bandage with a sock as her toes were peeping through and I didnt ant them to get dirty.)I had to ask him to put some tape around the sock so it wouldnt fall off.He said to come back in the afternoon for a collar to stop her licking her foot and when she had this on to take off the sock and leave it uncovered.Obviously,she could not go out without the bandage.Today it looks like the stitches have come off her foot,which wouldnt have happened had it been bandaged again.
I think it should have been bandaged again and was wondering what other peoples opinion is.She is on antibiotics and pain relief.To be honest,I think he has an aversion to GSD as another GSD owner went to him and was less than happy with the treatment he received.We have to go back tommorrow and I think that will be our last visit to that vet's surgeon.

Clarey & Bobbie.

I would ask your vet for some Leo Laboratories "Bitter Spray". This can be put on even open wounds and dogs won’t nibble it twice! I'm never without some. It’s only available from vets mores the pity but I find most stock it.

Regards John

If your vet has a problem with your breed, its simple, change your vet! Also, why not bandage it up your self, but don't forget to put some little bits of cotton wool between each toe to help prevent soreness. If it needs restitching ( stitching pads is v.difficult, I had to do one of my hounds pads a month ago & not easy!) then change your vet without hesitation & get it done asap otherwise you will be left with whats known as "proud flesh" healing & end up having to take it off with a bit of local.

Bandage it up yourself. I use Vetrap which is a self adhesive bandage and is ideal (comes in bright colours!). I keep supplies in for the dogs and the horse. I also have a lace up boot for paw injuries which you can get from any major pet shops - I think it's made by Mikki? Socks just get wet and keep falling off! The boot is not brilliant but works much better than socks.
I'm not very impressed with your vet. The bitter spray is a good idea.

Thank-you for your suggestions everyone.I shall buy some of the spray and see about the bandages.Got to go and keep her occupied now as she's 14 months old and trying to get her to rest all the time is impossible.Ive brushed her that much she'll soon be bald!
Lots of Love

Clare & Bobbie.

Wounds heal far better and far quicker if left uncovered. I would take your vets advice and put a collar on the dog to prevent her touching the leg, and buy a MIKKI boot for when you take her out of the house.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

I agree Joan, it is standard practice these days to leave a wound exposed within 24 hours a collar to prevent to dog interferring with it is all that is required.

My experience with pads is that they have a tendancy to open up all the time, when the dog walks on them, so for this reason, bandaging for a few days to give it a head start is often needed.

I have found this too, so depending on the severity, first day or so covered and then let the air get to it :-)

Reading this I feel so lucky to have a good vet, when my GSD cut his foot, after being stitched I was given a supply of bandages and dressings so I could change them frequently, it was winter and wet weather at the time so keeping it clean was important. I'm also lucky in that Zen doesn't chew the stitches either, he's recently got a large puncture would in his side when we were out walking, vet thinks he ran into something, never touched the stitches so we don't have to put up with those bucket things. Ingrid