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Any vets about?

32 replies

SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 11:49

The spaniel got into an altercation just now over in the field with a dog that he has previously been ok with. He started it (over a fucking tennis ball) and the big, soft, black lab finished it. The spaniel has a puncture wound behind his main pad on his front right foot. It has stopped bleeding, and I've washed it out, applied antibacterial ointment and bandaged it. He is limping in quite a pronounced way. This comes just a month after he badly cut his front left pad. In fact, he's still limping a bit on that side, so maybe he'll be a bit more evened out. I am very upset, demoralised, fucked off, miserable and a million other things right now, but do you think he needs to see a vet? Or is it one of those things that just needs to heal? Please don't anyone flame me, I don't think I could take it.

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CQ · 15/04/2014 11:57

Oh you poor thing, it's so horrible when things kick off like this, regardless of whose dog started what. They are all capable of it and we can't always see it coming.

Have a cup of strong sweet tea.

I'll probably get shot down for this, but if you don't have insurance that would cover it, then I would adopt a 'wait and see' approach. IME, vets will always give antibiotics as a precaution but they are not always necessary.

Keep a close eye on the wound and surrounding area. If it starts to swell or feel hot, or if the wound starts weeping, then it is probably infected and you should take him to the vet.

Hope you are both ok and back out there soon.

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Merrylegs · 15/04/2014 11:57

I an just back from the vet with my dog who last week had a puncture wound to one of his pads. Vet prescribed anti-bs and anti-inflammatory.

He is completely fine now - not sure it was time that healed or drugs but I felt bad for him limping so wanted to make sure I'd done the best for him. Cost around £70 for drugs and consult. If it's a bite wound I would always err on side of caution and get drugs.

Also vet gave him thorough exam including flexing tendons etc, just to make sure there was no underlying damage.

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SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 12:17

Thanks for the replies. He is terrified of the car, and the vet, so I don't want to put him through the stress unless I really have to. I'm having a bit of a meltdown so will look at it again when I've calmed down. He has fear aggression, is generally a nervy boy, but also needs a lot of exercise. Balancing this is becoming a bloody nightmare. My anxiety is through the roof. I've been trying to resolve his issues for 2 years now.

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Ephedra · 15/04/2014 12:22

If you have managed to wash it out well I would just keep an eye on it if he is terrified of the vets.

Does your vets allow you to ring them to ask advice? You could do that and see what they say.

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EasyToEatTiger · 15/04/2014 12:49

You poor thing. It is soooo annoying when pads get damaged. One of ours has just had stitches in a pad and is supposed to be on bedrest ahem. If the wound is a result of a bite it may be sensible to get anti bs as dog teeth are pretty revolting. If you really can't get to the vet, feel the wound for any heat. My leg was scraped by one of our dog's teeth and the wound took months to heal and hurt for far longer than I thought normal. I didn't go and get anything for it but perhaps I should have.

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needastrongone · 15/04/2014 13:03

Snakey - He will be ok for 24 hours. Even our Springer was, with half his pad off before we got to the emergency vet. Give yourself time to calm down. Then assess his wound.

This isn't about the wound, it's about the overall situation. Which I do think you need to figure through. It's affecting you personally. That's not right.

Perhaps time to get the behaviourist involved again. See if you can figure it through some more. You are doing your very best for the dog, I am just worried about how much it's taking out of you.

And drink gin tonic, or wine, or whatever!

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Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:06

Snakey and EasyToEatTiger you should both join the new club I have just made up.

It's called "I can't walk my bloody dog because he has hurt his feet. Again" club.

My collie has ripped the skin off a pad and its sort of flapping around. I had plans for the day and he has ruined them!

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Floralnomad · 15/04/2014 13:12

I hope Jas feels better soon ,dare I ask if the other dog was damaged?

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SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 13:15

Other dog was covered in a lot of slobber, but no injuries. I have to find a way of walking this dog and exercising him appropriately without putting him in a situation where he reacts, and also so that other dogs are safe. He's limping quite badly. Doesn't want to put any weight on it. Bollocks.

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Floralnomad · 15/04/2014 13:17

Could you muzzle train him ?

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SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 13:22

I'll look into it. I hate the idea, but yes, it might be time :( It's harder in some ways because the poodley thing is such an easy dog. He is happy, friendly, and generally content with his lot. The spaniel is currently staring at me and holding his paw up, clearly thinking this is all my fault and would I please take it away, thanks ever so kindly

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Ephedra · 15/04/2014 13:23

Snakey my collie is reactive to other dogs on lead and for a long time it was horrid walking him but it has gotten better. A lot better in fact. It took time and effort but is so worth it.

Also, your dog not wanting to weight bare on the injured foot doesn't mean its a bad injury. I would ring your vet and ask their advice.

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Owllady · 15/04/2014 13:27

Dogs do a good line in emotional blackmail imo Wink
Don't feel bad, these things happen. You love your dogs and provide them with a good home and feed and train them. You have nothing to feel bad about x it must be a shock though!

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tabulahrasa · 15/04/2014 14:21

My dog wears a muzzle - he's fine with it, he can sniff things, lick things still and get treats...fetch isn't really do-able but he can pick up some things with it on still.

It gives me piece of mind that when he kicks off (I'd love to say if, but it is an inevitability really) he can't bite and it gives a nice clear message to other dog walkers.

He's been wearing it for about seven months and to be honest I've only needed it to actually stop a bite once, but it makes other walkers so much more aware of keeping their dogs away, which means he doesn't get the chance to react in the first place.

I love his muzzle - it makes walking him so much easier, lol.

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Aked · 15/04/2014 17:07

I would say you don't need to go straight to vet as it is a puncture wound. These generally aren't stitched. If it were larger I would say go sooner, as a wound is better stitched fresh. It is probably mostly sore and bruised, and so pain relief is probably what he needs most. Were you given anti-inflammatories for the last wound on the other leg? If yes then I'd call your vet and OK to give this again. If he has been seen quite recently they would probably be happy for you to do so, although each to their own so I can't make any promises! Other than that, so long as it is clean, then strict rest and reassess his pain levels again tomorrow. I'm not a vet by the way, I'm a VN, but HTH.

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SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 17:29

Thanks Aked. DH has taken him to the vet as he hasn't eaten anything or moved much at all. He was whining a bit which he has never done. DH has a very, erm, ambivalent relationship with the spaniel and just muttered 'We need to have a serious talk about this dog' as he left. His mood will be directly affected by the vet bill.

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Aked · 15/04/2014 17:36

Poor boy, hope he hasn't damaged himself too badly then. Or your dh's wallet!

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SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 19:00

Turns out he has three puncture wounds, the one under his pad has been glued, and one on top has been stapled :(

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Floralnomad · 15/04/2014 19:32

Poor little boy .

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moosemama · 15/04/2014 19:38

So sorry to hear this Snakey.

My pup is also in the can't walk because he's injured himself, again, club. He's skinned three of his four paws (last week so healing now) then today took a chunk out of his side in the garden and has 4 staples. Hmm

Have you looked into hiring an exercise field by the hour for him at all? Lots of sighthound owners do this, as their dogs can't go off-lead where there's any chance they could leg-it. Not sure how you'd go about finding out about them in your area, but most Sighthound/Greyhound rescue groups know about them and I'm told there are sighthound groups on Facebook that may also be able to help. If you could find one, you could go a couple of times a week and give him a really good off-lead run without having to constantly scan the horizon for other dogs. (I've been there as you know and it does destroy your nerves.)

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SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 20:06

That's an idea, moose. We've just had a family meeting and decided to keep the spaniel on lead walks for the foreseeable. He loves to run, but our garden is big enough for games of fetch and if he's on lead out and about at least I can manage him more easily. I feel sad about it, like I've let him down, but being restricted has got to be better than being rehomed.

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CQ · 15/04/2014 20:19

That's a great idea, moose, I need to see if there's one near me too.

Snakey, sorry to hear of your pup's injuries. I know what you are going through. My 2 don't get off the lead at all now, they are just too unreliable. One of them also has to be muzzled since she attacked the neighbour's cat (in our garden, in her defence).

I just feel like her world has got smaller and smaller, but it's that or PTS - there's no point in trying to rehome her as the problems are just going to go with her.

In fact, I've had a long chat with my vet about the PTS scenario and while we are working through with the behaviourist she will not entertain the idea. Yet. But it does start to have an effect on the whole family - I can't let the DC's walk them, I'm paranoid about doors/gates getting left open, I am turning into a complete stress head about this dog.

Maybe we need our own thread for owners of problem dogs Sad. We can compare horror stories and stress levels.

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Floralnomad · 15/04/2014 20:43

snakey ,have you considered buying an agility set for the garden for him especially if he is staying on his lead when out . It just gives you another way of wearing him out at home and your DC will be able to do it with him . CQ we had a thread about 'problem' dogs before and it upset a few people ,who took it the wrong way .

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SnakeyMcBadass · 15/04/2014 20:49

Yeah, we had the Bastard Dog Club. I was president

Agility set might be a plan

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CQ · 15/04/2014 20:57

Oooh I missed that - off to look in the archive…….

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