Dog wound treatment - help!

natnifnolnacs

My dog (lab x) got a pretty nasty injury on Wednesday gone. One of his hind legs got a really bad cut, he lost a fair amount of blood as it nicked an artery and some skin was pulled away, meaning there wasn't enough to stitch over the wound. He's on painkillers and anti-biotics.
We brought him straight to the vet where he was patched up and stayed overnight. I changed his bandage as directed yesterday morning, but this evening it has really started to smell bad. I assume there is an infection starting, but I'm now not sure what way to handle it. I'll be bringing him to the vet first thing in the morning, but in the meantime should I do anything, or just leave it until the vet gets at it?

natnifnolnacs

I rang the out of hours number for some advise - I've changed the bandage and will bring him in to the vet in the morning to have it properly cleaned.

bertsmom

OP my Springer got an infection that was near impossible to get rid of earlier in the year. I think what turned a small wound into a massive (&expensive ) drama was that he got at the wound in bed one night and spent the whole night licking it and made it ten times worse.
Have u an old cone collar around that you could put on him for the night? Or anything that he cannot pull off the wound to go at it?
Best of luck to him hope he gets better really quickly poor doggie.

natnifnolnacs

bertsmom wrote: »

OP my Springer got an infection that was near impossible to get rid of earlier in the year. I think what turned a small wound into a massive (&expensive ) drama was that he got at the wound in bed one night and spent the whole night licking it and made it ten times worse.
Have u an old cone collar around that you could put on him for the night? Or anything that he cannot pull off the wound to go at it?
Best of luck to him hope he gets better really quickly poor doggie.

I thought about that, but he isn't really going near it...I have it well covered with a bandage (the vet gave me all the proper stuff to use) so I think I'm good until tomorrow. It really is a very nasty/deep cut so I have a feeling it's going to roll on for a while....beans on toast for Christmas dinner I'd say!

aonb

Hows your dog doing?

natnifnolnacs

aonb wrote: »

Hows your dog doing?

Thanks for asking....I brought him in first thing this morning. They are keeping him overnight tonight as there is a definite infection there...hopefully we caught it early enough ,but it's such a deep wound that it's hard to know what way it will heal. We rang this afternoon to check on him,but we'll know more tomorrow. Here's hoping for good news.

aonb

natnifnolnacs wrote: »

Thanks for asking....I brought him in first thing this morning. They are keeping him overnight tonight as there is a definite infection there...hopefully we caught it early enough ,but it's such a deep wound that it's hard to know what way it will heal. We rang this afternoon to check on him,but we'll know more tomorrow. Here's hoping for good news.

Thats a shame. I hope he gets home and they zap that infection fast. He's in the right place in the meantime. Let us know how he goes.

natnifnolnacs

Update! So the infection cleared up after a few days, but it was touch and go as to whether it would heal or not. There was a chance he would lose the leg, but thankfully things didn't go that way and it is now healing really well, at a pretty astonishing rate! He has started to use it a little today, not putting weight on it yet but for balance and is back looking for walks again which is a great sign. The timing is good too as I am off work so can bring him for plenty of little walks over the next few days to build back up his strength. We are back for a check up on Friday, but another few weeks and it's looking like it will be back to normal.

natnifnolnacs

happy to report a few months later that he is doing great. He still minds it a little bit, but for the most part is using the leg well and is nearly back to himself. Another month or so and I'd say ir won't even be noticeable which is a big relief.