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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

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Original poster

Lost claw :(

32 replies

Flippetydip · 28/06/2017 13:37

I let Flipdog have her first burn up today in an enclosed and empty field. She came back to check on me intermittently and then when I called her back she came back like a dream, but came back minus a claw.

Have bathed in salty water and she's not in pain with it. Vet or not vet? Walks or no walks? Bandage or no bandage?

I'm delighted she came back (and she did look like she thoroughly enjoyed it!) but less delighted about the claw. When we got her from rescue it was at a very dodgy angle so I'm wondering whether it was something to do with her early retirement?

Any other advice gratefully received :)

OP posts:

LaGattaNera · 28/06/2017 13:59

Which claw? dew claw? Mine have never lost a claw other than a dew claw which gave them no adverse effects and I just kept it clean and they were walked as normal - no vet. I guess it depends on the claw - are you able to post a picture at all?

Floralnomad · 28/06/2017 14:02

If it's not a dew claw I'd get it checked . My dog has SLO so lots of problems with claws and he's normally very lame when he damages one so needs pain killers even if it requires no further treatment , which they often do . When he's had a claw removed it's always a dressing job .

Original poster

Flippetydip · 28/06/2017 14:16

Photo - if it works - is not wildly helpful as you can't actually see anything except an absence of claw. It's her "little toe" if that makes sense.

I think we should perhaps see the vet as it's the first incident.

Funny, since she's had a run she's relaxed massively and is now roaching on the sofa which she hasn't done since we had her apart from once!

OP posts:

CornflakeHomunculus · 28/06/2017 14:31

Definitely get that looked at, that sort of injury can be very vulnerable to infection.

Blissful conking out post a good run is fairly typical of sighthounds

NKFell · 28/06/2017 15:00

I'd get her checked out just to be on the safe side but I'm sure she'll be fine.

Glad she enjoyed her freedom!

Floralnomad · 28/06/2017 15:19

Definitely get it checked , was it bleeding ?

FrogsLegs31 · 28/06/2017 15:23

What breed is flipdog? Age?

My friends German shepherd was recently diagnosed with SLO.
www.nevetdermatology.com/symmetric-lupoid-onychodystrophy-in-dogs/

Original poster

Flippetydip · 28/06/2017 15:45

She's a greyhound, nearly 3. She came to us a month ago with that claw looking very iffy.

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 28/06/2017 16:25

Greyhounds came up a lot when we looked into SLO when our dog was diagnosed ( patterdale x) , but it's not normally nails falling out that leads to diagnosis it's poor quality and splitting toe nails that are prone to breakage . From that photo her nails look pretty good , so I wouldn't even go down that road as diagnosis requires a bone sample ( or it did ) .

Original poster

Flippetydip · 28/06/2017 16:35

Thanks floral - I imagine they'll just bathe it and say "yes it's fine" and that'll be that but still better safe than sorry....

OP posts:

Original poster

Flippetydip · 28/06/2017 18:10

Yuck, the vet said FOUR DAYS of no walking - DH is deeply unhappy as he's at home with her and the kids alone as I'm off for a jolly this weekend and Flipdog will go mental with that little walking. Any suggestions to make his weekend less unbearable?!

She was given anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic injections. So good natured with the vet apparently.

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 28/06/2017 18:19

Play mind games to tire him out, hunt the kibble in grass, a kong wobbler for food, hunt the ball. I have about 10 tennis balls and I rub my hands over them and then hide them either in the house or garden and tell him to find them, he loves it. Other games I play is two tennis balls and I dribble them slowly around the house with my foot so as he grabs one I go for the other and then he wants that one and so on.

Cocobananas · 28/06/2017 18:42

Poor flipdog and poor your DH. If I need to tire out Cocopup completely I play sprinkles with her, you can look it up online but get together a couple of tablespoonfuls of crumbs( from the bottom of kibble bag, tiny bits of tuna, crumbled up treats etc). Distribute these over a good area of lawn and dog will spend ages searching every crumb out and then going back over to lick every blade of grass to find any they may have missed. As long is flipdog is food motivated and grass is dry.I also hide a few treats in a box or old tea towel as well as about the house sometimes. Don't underestimate the general busyness of a household with children, company, things going on all tire dogs out mentally. He just might not sleep as much during the day.We have just come back from a day with my daughter and son in law and my parents, a car ride, new garden to explore, a kong while we were having lunch but no off lead walking and pup is absolutely shattered and asleep on her rug as I type.

Floralnomad · 28/06/2017 18:55

We always take ours for a car ride if he can't go out , he's a bit stupid and as long as he's been out he's pretty settled .

Original poster

Flippetydip · 28/06/2017 19:12

She's a grey and spends most of the time off her feet anyway so I can't see that 4 days is going to be completely necessary - it's not the risk of infection or anything it's the weight bearing as the pressure on the leg will stop it healing as quickly or something. So even letting her potter round the garden is something of a no-no, but thanks for the ideas coco.

DH has got to take her out with them on Friday evening, so if we keep her off it all day tomorrow and all day Friday I really think she'll be alright for a bit of time out on Friday otherwise she'll be on her own all afternoon and all evening which is just not on.

It's such a shame as she had such a lovely run and it was the first time ever :(

DH is in a foul temper and he's usually so lovely... Wish me luck. I've even offered to cancel my weekend away but fortunately he declined.

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 29/06/2017 15:38

My lurcher has lost a claw before - it wasn't SLO, just beggaring about! The pressure on greys feet when they are racing is massive, so she probably damaged it then and this just took it off. Ddog1s claw grew back normally and hasn't been an issue since.

Your words about resting reminded me of a lady I met at the vets who was telling me the vet had advised her to reduce her greys painkillers if they were overly sleepy. She said she wasn't sure how she would tell

Original poster

Flippetydip · 29/06/2017 18:05

Thanks CMOT (am I right this is a Terry Pratchet reference?!)

I thought I'd posted again on this but apparently not. How long did your lurcher's claw take to heal up? Hers is still looking raw and wet.

I'm slightly traumatised as DS had a similar incident with a toenail about three years ago where it got infected and they were worried it was going to go into the bone. We were in hospital for 6 days on IV antibiotics. I really don't want it going the same with the dog!

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 29/06/2017 18:57

It is! Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler - purveyor of the finest (ahem) sausages inna bun
I think he looked pathetic for about a week with just keeping it clean, spraying with Hypocare, and taping a sock on it to stop him nibbling at it (which he is a devil for)

Original poster

Flippetydip · 29/06/2017 19:12

What's hypocare? Might have to have a look into that. No idea how to dry it out.

She's worse with a sock on and constantly keeps pulling and licking if there's a sock there and leaves it alone for the most part if there's nothing on it (but in my mind's eye I see millions of germs invading it).

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 29/06/2017 19:20

Hypocare - we first found it when ds had a pony who was a beggar for mud fever and it was recommended to us. So effective, we use it on all the animals and ourselves now - somewhat like my dads use of purple sheep spray on us as kids

DistortedPerceptions · 29/06/2017 19:29

Pottering will be fine, I would probably have bandaged for a couple of days though just to keep clean. . The claw will just grow back, it's a a very common injury. As pp said, food puzzles might help with the boredom.

Original poster

Flippetydip · 29/06/2017 19:34

Thanks CMOT - I'll get some for future - I fear this will not be an isolated incident!

Sticky tape distorted - will it not get stuck to her fur? And yes, we fed her from the Kong today - she enjoyed it I think!

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 29/06/2017 19:39

Bandage with vetwrap but make sure you put cotton wool to separate the toes , then bandage as if you are doing a stump dressing on a human ( not much use if you've never wrapped a stump but I've an ex nurse so that's how I do it) . You can get vetwrap type bandages in most chemists .

DistortedPerceptions · 29/06/2017 19:42

No, it comes off quite easily (well maybe a small wax on removal!) but it really does stop them removing them in most cases, and stops bandages slipping. If no bandage then tie a poly bag, or poo bag on with a bit of bandage or tape to go in the garden.

DistortedPerceptions · 29/06/2017 19:43

Oh should have said, when I say sticky tape I mean of the medical variety from the chemist, not gaffer tape .

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