Puppy - digital pad injury

[oliviasfriend]

We noticed our 6 month old puppy late last night licking her digital pad excessively and on inspection can see a small cut. (She has no dew claws). It was not bleeding and is more like a little chunk of skin/flesh missing. We don't know how she did it as she made no sign of distress when we were out walking yesterday morning or when we were in the garden yesterday afternoon. She doesn't seem to be too bothered by it this morning except when she goes for a lie down will have the occasional lick.

How would you deal with this? My main worry is that it will get dirty after her walk today and I don't want to risk getting it infected. Would you put something on it? I have a dog bandage but she will probably have a good chew at that.

Thanks!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I hang my head in shame as I approach the confessional box. I am a vet.
On Friday night my dog was licking a hind paw I looked there was a tiny little wound didn't look too bad I did nothing - bad bad owner whips self like Dobby in Harry P.
Last night I look again ahhhhhh horrible festering nastiness now we have the cone of shame, oral antibiotics and antibiotic cream.
What I should have done on Friday night is to clean the area with warm salt water and then place a very light bandage or even just a cotton sock held in place with bandage, I should have then looked at it on Saturday morning recleaned it and replaced sock. If it looked like it had got worse overnight if I was a non-vet I would have attended regular clinic. Though probably I would have got away with keeping it clean.
Fortunately as a vet I have not faced an out of hours charge to deal with festering mess.
Dog also hates me now due to cone of shame.

[oliviasfriend]

Thanks Lonecat. I did smile when I read that you're a vet!!! Your poor dog - I can't believe that infection set in so quickly. We ended up stopping at the pet shop on our way out for a walk this morning to buy some cream to aid healing. We have cleaned the wound a couple of times and will check again in the morning. At least our vets will be open again if we need to get it checked. Why do these things always happen at the weekend?! Hope your dog is better soon!

[Gingersstuff]

My 8-month old pup recently got a very nasty wound on her digital pad...it was split right open and quite deep, poor wee soul. Took her to our vet who gave us two options...surgery to cut out the dirty tissue and then staples to put her pad back together, or clean it out, pack it with medical grade manuka honey, antibiotic shot and wait and see. We went for the second option and were completely astounded at how well the wound healed. It did take a fair bit of work, had to keep washing out with diluted antiseptic and changing the dressing as she kept eating it off and then prancing around lol, and we got her paw covers for out-and-abouting (bed rest for first week as the wound really was bad, lead walking the next week). Back to normal within 2 weeks and while the vet warned us there would be a scar...not a bit of it. Healed perfectly without a trace. Needless to say I'm now a convert to the miracle powers of honey :-)
Hope this helps and that your pup is better soon.