Hi All, i posted a few weeks ago about my gsd bitch chewing at her paw, the vet could find nothing wrong but i was worried that she would cause some damage. She started chewing again yesterday and today i have noticed she has licked/chewed part of her pad off so pink tissue is exposed, she is limping now and not putting any weight on her paw at all now. The vet can't see her until tomorrow evening and i want to do something to make her comfortable overnight.
Should i cover it (bandage) or leave the air to get to it. She is possibly 3 weeks pregnant so i am concerned about whether to put anything on it ie antiseptic in case she licks it off.
Any advice gratefully received.

I think I'd be inclined to use the bandage, she could make it a whole lot worse left to her own devices over night, or do you have a lampshade thingy ? that might be a better solution.

I'd cover with a bandage or sock & be sleeping along side to prevent her chewing it any more.

Great thanks, i have washed and bandaged it and she doesn't seem at all bothered by the bandage. Will sleep with her to make sure she doesn't have a nibble in the night.

For something safe to put on the rawness, have a look at stuff for sore baby bums.  Can't remember name now, begins with M.

I had a bitch that had licked her own vulva sore, just being over fastidious.  It looked totally raw, and I took her to the vet.  He recommended stuff for nappy rash, as it was safe if she started messing again.  It worked.

Jean is it Metanium you were thinking of, it is chalky and tends to stay put rather than be absorbed by any covering.

I first used it on a baby who was admitted with severe nappy rash from his waist down, never seen such a bad case before or since, he was nursed without a nappy and the Metanium made a big difference very quickly.

Thank you Jean, i have sudocrem to hand, otherwise i will pop out to the chemist if that's no good? She hasn't bothered with it all night and seems ok in herself.

Metanium is right.  Thank you.  It didn't melt fast like Sudacrem.  I was amazed that the vet sent me to get baby stuff, but, as you say, it works very well indeed.  And I certainly had no problems about ingesting the stuff.  If she did lick any, there was no illness from doing so.  I actually keep it in my doggy first aid box now! 

:-)

Thanks everyone, been to the vets, got told off for putting sudocrem on it and for covering it (oops), vet said it would interfere with the healing process. Piper is back home with a course of ab's and painkiller and fingers crossed it will heal up soon as i really want her as fit as poss prior to whelping and at the mo she can't walk.