I'm so glad your girlie is recovering. Great news.

Keep up the good work and dont forget to tell us when the mum and babies are reunited.

Glad things are going so well considering.

Update from this morning's visit to the vet - he said it is looking 'lovely' (not a word I would use lol but I know what he means!)  It is pink and clean and all the bad has gone (thanks to the hosing I'm sure).  He said we should now give it a few days to see how well it starts to heal.  He said the possibility of surgery is quite high because the hole is so big, but wants to give it a few days first just in case.  So we have an appointment for Friday morning.

Toolz, should I now stop the hosing as the bad is all gone?  Or do I carry on?  The vet said to wash it as little as possible - just if it gets mucky, but I do appreciate that vets don't always know everything.  I'm not sure if the hosing was just to wash the bad out, and now it's gone to maybe leave it alone to heal?  Or whether we should carry on hosing?  Please let me know what you did and what your vet advised, if you can remember.

I'm so pleased that things are looking up.  She doesn't need the collar on so much now either because she isn't constantly at it like she was.  I am letting her see the pups a little, supervising and getting them off teats when they try to get on.  She is enjoying giving them a lick here and there and kissing them when they've had their milk!  But I am keeping it to a minimum because they can be extremely determined to get where they shouldn't!

I want to thank everyone on this board who has posted to me, both on the thread and in private message - I really appreciate it - you have really helped me through.  Thank you so much.

Fingers crossed that it heals on its own, and no surgery needed. After the big gaping hole my friend's dog had, you wouldn't even know it by the small scar its left :) It really does heal from the inside out so IMO its best left to heal itself, sorry I keep forgetting to ask her what stuff she used on it.

Now all the dead tissue has been washed away, and the skin is in the clean, pink healing phase, hoseing shouldn't be needed -just time, good food and care.
I'm sorry that your vet thinks she'll need surgery, let's hope your girlie proves him wrong :-)

Just caught up with this Joanne. So sorry to hear about your girl. You are doind a brilliant job. Well done.  Don't worry about the little ones being kept away at 4 weeks they are young  5 weeks you won't know why you worried.  A little bit of meat here and there always keeps them interested.

Keeping my fingers crossed this is the start of a quick recovery for you and of course your girl.

Well done Tooolz on the support.  I think you have really help Joanne not just with the wound but emotionally..  

This was although a sad post a lovely one to read. (I have been having a disheatened few weeks with the board)

Everyone's been great Blue.  I'm so grateful to everyone here.  Thanks for your kind words too - things are on the up now - I really thought I was going to lose her at one point - she really was so poorly.  Thank goodness things look better now. 

Just to give you all an update.  Been to the vets again today.  He is really pleased with the way things are going.  The wound is healing really well - just since Monday it has halved in size!  It is incredible.  I am so pleased.  If it keeps going like this then she won't need surgery.  They don't want to see us again for a week :-)  She has to stay on both antibiotics because obviously with an open wound there is chance of reinfection.  But everything is really looking up :-)

So glad it's healing on it's own and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you both over the next week.

That's one of the reasons I like this site. There is always someone who has been through it, so you never feel on your own. Keep up the good work everyone :-)

Thats brilliant news :) :)
Am so pleased for you and her of course :) :)
Lea :) :)

Fantastic news :)

So pleased that everything is going well, and thank goodness for tooolz, I'm sure there will be others in the future who will now know how much hosing will help.

Keep us updated but all seems to be going very, very, well, glad she is getting to be with her pups a little now. :-)

Fantastic news, so pleased for you. What a nightmare you have been through!

:-)  Thanks everyone.

Yeh  great news :-)
Before you know it, all will be re-united and your girl will have no sign that she's ever had the slightest problem....fab.

Yes, I have extended the lengths of time she spends with the pups now.  They are still a bit one-track minded when they come within a mile of boobs lol, but now she is better in herself she is quite happy to move away or tell them off.  So they are able to spend a bit of time playing with her now. 

Having them separate has shown me just how much our girls do.  The amount of poo I have picked up is ridiculous lol and their coats are definitely not as clean as they should be!!  So anyone who has babies right now, go and give your girl a hug and tell her how proud you are of all she does!!!  This litter has worn me to a shred lol.

That's brilliant news :-D 

Re the pups wanting to suck, I found a rub over the boobies with a little Vicks rub or a spray and rub with SHAWS chew deterrant which I add a drop of Lavender oil to worked a treat - obviously keep it well away from the healing area ;)

the lavender oil and Chew deterrant is now in use on mum's ear tassles as they have become the object of desire and I really don't want ear sucking and chewing to become a habit :-D