Is vet right?

[leli]

We had to take our 10 year old cocker spaniel to the vet for surgery on his paw on Monday because he was in pain, limping, licking his paw continually. Vet determined it was grass seeds lodged in the paw so he had sedation and the vet literally had to cut the horrible barbed buggers out. He was discharged with 7 days anti-inflammatory and 7 days anti-biotics. There was no dressing on his paw which now has an approx 0.75cm crater into the top of his paw. No cone collar. Vet said the wound should stay open and it’s fine if he licks it, which he’s doing, a lot. No sign of infection I don’t think but we’re finding it quite distressing. Is this common now?

Probably and best to keep open

Our cocker gets 2/3 of these per year and we usually treat at home now. We let it come to a head then get her to paddle up and down in a warm salty bath until it pops.

We follow with lots of bathing (hibiscrub from vets), plus treats and cuddles.

Forgot to say, by keeping wound open, you allow it to heal from inside out

Vet was adamant surgery needed and home treatment wouldn’t work. But I suppose he would say this, wouldn’t he!

The vet is 100% right - looks like the seed was really deep. So it’s very different to someone fixing at home.

Vets don’t go around putting dogs through surgery and causing them pain for no reason. They’re not monsters.

I think it's one of those wounds that looks worse than it is, especially because your dog has black fur so the injury looks really prominent.

But from the measurements you've given, it's actually quite small. Personally I wouldn't dress it but would probably use a cone to prevent licking if possible, you can get them cheap off Amazon.

I agree with the pp that stopping him licking it will be better

Thanks all. As if he can read my mind (he often can!) he’s stopped licking so much so I think all’s well.