HELP!!!
I have a young dog who cut his back pad 2 weeks before Christmas which needed stitches. I am a nurse so able to change the dressing and bandage every day as he was either nibbling the bandage or one of the other dogs was "helping" him nibble it if he had his Elizabethan collar on :rolleyes:
Part of the wound broke down at the base and looked infected so he went onto antibiotics, again changing dressing, keeping it clean etc.
Now it is still not fully healed and there is about 1cm which is still quite open. It looks as though the air needs to get to it to dry the skin out.
Does anyone use any homeopathic remedies to try and speed the healing process?
If he goes without a bandage he licks at it, making it sore and inflammed. Some days I am redressing it 3 times!!!

Have you tried putting a boot on over the bandages so he's got more to get through and won't get it off so quick?  Sometimes it's just a matter of time and patience.

Good luck with him :)

Debs

At 6mths old my dog had to have the pad behind her 'wrist' completely cut off. The vet said to keep the bandage on at all times. Molly had a cone around her neck that drove her mad, so i took that off & of course bandage after bandage were ripped off! The wound was slightly infected, she also had antibiotics. About a week later my Mum suggested leaving the bandage off, like you say, to get some fresh air to it. Although Molly licked her wound alot at first, still with the stitches in, she soon got tired of it & the air dried it out, stitches came out & it has healed wonderfully!
Good luck!

Thank you for your help.....I got a Mikki boot to put on to try and keep it dry when he goes outside, this fell off after about 2 mins when he was outside for a wee! (Even though it was tightly laced up.) At one stage while wearing the collar he nearly strangled himself trying to get collar off :rolleyes: He is not the brightest spark. He has managed to chew the inside of another collar while Iain helped him out and was chewing the ouside!!!
Glad Molly is ok now and I think thats what I will end up doing. Mums are always right you see!!

Oh the poor pickle!
Just a couple of suggestions, regards the collar you could try the Moon collar? Mines been a godsend on occassion but they are expensive..

If the wound became infected it'll probably have itched so not surprising he worried it. Generally Ive always used colloidal silver, highly recommend it. zinc oxide and tea tree too's good. (and good old sudocreme (sp??) works a treat)
HTH :)

This is another option:

http://www.healthydiet-shop.co.uk/the-procollar-for-dogs-p-321.html

M.

The moon collars look interesting. Wonder if they would stand upto being chewed by a 3rd party - a determined one! Hadn't thought of tea tree. I suppose I could just dab the wound with TT pure oil?

I use aloe vera on Fagans cut pads, I do have to keep them bandaged though because he licks it constantly and it doesnt have a chance to dry out.  I use the boots you buy in sets of four (used for shows usually) they velcro up the leg, he has never managed to get one off yet.

Are they waterproof?

yes :)

Hi,
I use Forever Freedom Veterinary Spray on any cuts or grazes, it's got Allantoin in it so it cleans and heals.

I would really like to find something that stopped the little ones chewing their feet in the summer.  Does the moon collar actually stop them reaching their feet to chew I cant see how it would accomplish this.  Help would be very gratefully welcomed.

Looks like the moon collar prevnts them physically turning round but Harris did work out that he could position his foot into the Elizabethan collar and continue to chew it :rolleyes: which I guess they could also do with the moon collar. Might have to invest in some snazzy leg protector things for him though!

I'm not sure about this either. I'm sure that I read somewhere that they can still reach the front paws. I've been searching for where I read it but can't for the life of me find it - will continue  on my mission! :D

Did you get yours from a show?

They are too smart aren't they.  Mine manage to get their feet into the Elizabethan collar and chew their feet I was hoping this moon idea was going to be the answer.  I will keep looking as well.

yes, from countrymun, you can get them online too.

Hi,

I think the more you mess with his/her paw now with final healing, the more interested "the patient" becomes!!

Personally I would let the air get to the wound, and try a tea spoon of salt to a pint of warm water(as well as helping the healing), may lick at first but the salt soon breaks the habbit ;-). Takes a bit of extra Veterinary Nursing but well worth the effort.

Good luck.

Pam

I know this is going to sound weird, but my vet told me to use pile cream (anasol) to quickly heal a cut, it shrinks it and draws it back in, it worked too

Justi

TRY NEW SKIN (I THINK THATS WHAT IT,S CALLED ) YOU GET IT FROM BOOTS IT,S IN A BOTTLE THE SIZE OF A NAIL VARNISH BOTTLE WITH A LITTLE BRUSH IT FORM LIKE A PLASTIC SKIN I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE O.K. IF WOUND IS KNITTING TOGETHER AND NOT GAPPING APART

Ive used new skin on Fagan, it never worked particularly well but maybe that was just him :rolleyes:

I spoke to someone who suggested this. I am sure I have used it on myself and it really stung when I applied it. Harris is a REAL wuss! The wound is still looking very open, have just been bathing it if it looks dirty but trying to is keep it as dry as possible...not easy in this weather!:rolleyes:

I would also use the salt water method. Many vets still recommend this. Hope it gets better soon.

Don't know if anyone has mentioned Witch Hazel, it is really good on foot wounds.

Would I have to dilute this or dab it on neat? Didn't think of that, thank you!

I have used in neat on my own (once had a Rabbit bite right through the fleshy part of my hand below my thumb) and the dogs wounds.  It stops bleeding toughens the area and it heals really well.