Poorly paw

[Wolfiefan]

I could cry. No actually I have already.

Noticed big dog had scraped the side of a back paw. Assumed it was skinned when she was playing with another dog.

12 days of stopping her licking it and keeping it clean. No worse but no better.

Went to the vet who didn't think it looked right. Debrided and cleaned and bandaged. And antibiotics.

Check up 3 days later. Much better. Decided on one more lot of dressings. Just in case. They came off today. Whilst we were eating dinner she's bloody gnawed it again.

So back to vet? Worth trying any treatment at home? Is there a chance she didn't just skin it in the first place?

Any advice welcome.

[Justbookedasummmerholiday]

My ddogs get a lathering of sudocrem and a sock with a bandage wrapped around it!!

[BiteyShark]

I have some hibiscrub and dilute it so it's only just slightly pink and dab that onto any sores that BiteyDog has. When he scraped his paw pad I left it unwrapped but cleaned it with the hibiscrub a few times a day and slept next to him to stop him licking it.

[Wolfiefan]

She's not doing it at night Bitey. Only during the day. Every time I think she's stopped she finds a sneaker way of bloody chewing it!

[BiteyShark]

Ah he is the opposite, tends to have his licking, preening and chewing sessions at night. Noisey thing wakes me up he's so loud

Catch 22, probably better to let the air at it to heal but if she keeps making it worse then you need to cover it (or get a head cone so large she can't get to her paw )

[Floralnomad]

We had something similar on a pad earlier in the year and vet gave us a mild steroid cream to rub in , no dressings just kept it clean . Our dog is currently sporting a rather fetching plaster on one ear , he caught the tip in a rose bush about 2.5 weeks ago and every time we take the plaster off he shakes his head and opens the cut back up . House has looked like a crime scene several times with blood up the walls / coving / ceiling . Vet has glued it twice already to no avail .

[Wolfiefan]

Thing is she isn't obsessively gnawing it. It's literally the odd lick!
We have a cone. I don't think the house would be standing if I put that on!!
Ouch Floral. I live in fear of happy tail here. I did quick her once. House and garden looked like an abbatoir!

[CMOTDibbler]

As there can only be one wolfpup with a poorly paw in Gloucestershire, I am very, very sorry that I didn't announce myself as CMOT to you yesterday. Am a dunce....

[Wolfiefan]

You!!!! I kept looking at people yesterday thinking "I wonder if that's you". Would've been stalkerish to ask!
Gorgeous dogs and lovely people! Hope we didn't embarrass ourselves too much!
Yep. She's now got the bloody boot off and is looning round the garden.
So far I've been told:
Hibiscrub
Epsom salts
Sudacrem
Colloidal silver
Horse wound stuff.
Everyone suggest something different. My head is spinning!

[BiteyShark]

Which one can you get your hands on tonight to try? That would be my choice

[Wolfiefan]

None.
And she has a history of allergic reactions (to food). Don't want to damage the skin further.

[CMOTDibbler]

I did speak to you, and thought, nah, I'd have heard about a poorly paw - plus was distracted by ds buying lurid fingerless gloves, dogs (one white/fawn in red quilted coat, one blue/fawn, black rough coated. dogs had christmas collars on), foster puppy etc.

ddog1 is a beggar for not leaving things alone. With a paw, I would apply two layers of sock held on with vetwrap bandage. I do use a horse wound spray which is great for cleaning, but they just lick it away

[Wolfiefan]

Ha. I thought paw was healing! And with my posts about ears and eyes and phantoms etc I had bored everyone to tears quite enough!!
I need bandage! I have no first aid supplies. She had a boot on but is currently looping around the garden with it off. Cow bag!
So fed up of dressings and antibiotics. And trying to keep it dry and out of the mud. And restricting walking. And her being a baggage because of it.
She's supposed to be at a very prestigious show soon. Not a hope.
Three weeks on and it looks as bad as ever. Where's the emoticon for crying your eyes out whilst rocking like a loon in the corner?

[Wolfiefan]

Bathed it.
I need
She was not cooperating.

[CMOTDibbler]

The one good thing about having a dog with very little hair and a ridiculously thin skin is that we have a lot of dog first aid kit!

And I like hearing about her, baggage that she is

[Wolfiefan]

Hmmm. I called her more than a baggage. You saw the size of her. Think wrestling a mouthing, wriggling crocodile still enough to wash foot!
Good job I like cake and have a weight advantage on her.
She's now sporting a DocMcStuffin sock. (It was an odd one I found, the right size and seemed appropriate!)
I never know what I should and shouldn't attempt in terms of first aid! Scared of making things worse and not better.
Such a newbie!

[PhatSlag]

One of mine had a really sore, infected paw in August. He did need antibiotics but I also got some Wildwash Healing Paw Balm from Fetch.com and a comfy cone so he didn’t get stuck in the doorways! Hope your doggie is better soon.

[Wolfiefan]

Ha a cone would freak her out completely. She's such a wuss. Plus she's HUGE so we do have a cone but it's not entirely practical! I actually think she would freak out so much she would break a limb.
She's about to finish the antibiotics tomorrow so there shouldn't be any infection.
She gets ear infections if I feed her the wrong treats so I'm terrified of putting anything on her skin.

[Tedster77]

One of my dogs is a huge Wolfhound x Deerhound and they are so ridiculously sensitive and thin
skinned 🙄. The only thing that worked to heal her wounds is medicinal honey. It was like a miracle. But you now have about 84 suggested solutions so I know that probably doesn't help!!!

[CMOTDibbler]

I grew up delivering healthcare to the huge number of animals my dad had - and even when there was a vet involved dad (and so I) would help out, including in theatre. So I'm very confident about it all!
I was taught to do feet by pushing the animal up against a wall, someone else does the head end (or tie them up), and then pick foot up and use your body to pin them against the wall. Pushing them off balance on 3 feet does stop the wiggling around.
Another foot washing technique is to take a 4 pint milk container, cut the top off but leave the handle on. Then you can hold water/ hibiscrub solution or whatever onto their foot, rather than holding their foot in the water

[Wolfiefan]

Use shoulder. Push Wolfie onto her bed! Hold by scruff if needs be. Wait till she's stopped wriggling.
Praise and wash.
Only me I'm afraid. And tying would panic her!

[Justbookedasummmerholiday]

Pets at home do an antiseptic cream, our husky had a huge gouge in her head on a Fri night, put some on a few times a day, had started to scab over by the Monday so didn't even see a vet. Think was about a fiver.

[Wolfiefan]

The vet didn't put anything on it or recommend we put anything on it.
My head is spinning.

[MindTheDaps]

If its just the odd lick can't you just ignore it? Just distract her if you spot her doing it? I wouldn't go back to the vet, at this rate, they'll see you coming.

I know that's not an exciting suggestion but this dog seems to cause you quite a lot of anxiety. Your head shouldn't be spinning and you shouldn't be wanting to cry over a scraped paw

[Wolfiefan]

Well thanks for that @MindTheDaps
She's also had ear and eye issues. Not that long ago she had a suspected pyometra or maybe pneumonia. So yes. Maybe I am anxious. Not really surprising.
I have an active puppy that can't walk much due to trying to keep it clean and dry.
I'm constantly trying to clean it or give her pills or get boots on and off. So yes. It's stressful.
The odd lick yes. But it's causing the foot to not heal at all. So no I don't want to leave it and end up with serious infection.

[MindTheDaps]

I'm not trying to offend you. It just caught my eye because I've seen several threads of yours about the dog and you just come across as very anxious about her. The vet doesn't seem concerned so I'd try not to be