Guest lauri Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Okay... Miles tore his skin on the front of his thigh. When do you know they need to go to the vet? Is there anyway to just bandage it up? He's fine, and the bleeding is done. In fact there seems to have been little bleeding. Is there anyway to use a butterfly bandage to help close it? It's about the size of a quarter. We're paying on a $700 bill already from the vet and I know they'll just gouge us again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackandBrindle Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Can you post a pic? I've never taken Spud into the vet for skin tears. As long as it's not vee shaped and the bleeding is stopped, I'd rinse it with saline, put some antibiotic ointment on it and leave it alone, as long as he is. Otherwise cut the toe off a sock, place over leg, and wrap the top and bottom (putting a sterile non-stick gauze pad over the wound) or put him in pants... Poor Miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lauri Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Thanks! I already searched this 'site for tears in the skin and it seems most let them heal. It isn't 'v' shaped, it's round. I like the idea of a sock! Thank you!!! Off for some anit-biotic cream...I've run out! Love the pants idea!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DaffyToons Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I have a very accident-prone houndie that has had so many stitches, I have lost count. It has been my experience that even when stitches are placed, it is difficult to keep the dog away from pulling the stitches out. Recently, Lilly (the accident-prone one) had her flank sliced open (skin only) in the shape of a "7". It was about 4 inches long total. That definitely required a vet visit. However, by day 5, she had pulled out most of the stitches, leaving the "bottom" of the "7" intact with stitches, but the "top" of the "7" open to the size of a quarter. I did have the vet look at what was left of her handiwork, and she recommended we do nothing further. I would recommend to you to wash it with gentle soap and warm water, pat it dry, keep it loosely covered, if possible, and see how things go. If there is any skin flapping, that would have to be removed by the vet; but if bleeding is controlled, I would just take a wait-and-see attitude. Do not put peroxide on the wound to clean it! Watch for signs of infection: redness, swelling, oozing. Keep us posted, and give Miles and extra gentle hug from us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jonah305 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 (edited) Vet wrap is a must have for situations like this. Our girls get their fair share of scrapes and scratches when they go on play dates or to the park and I usually do let them heal on their own in the open air after being cleaned up, but from time to time I will clean the wound, put Neosporin on it and close it up with vet wrap. They're usually pretty good about leaving the wrap on long enough to let the Neosporin sink in and start doing its work. Last year we went to an event on a river and Sammie and Bill went in. After romping around and having a great time, they both made their way back to shore with their feet sliced up a bit from the oyster shells. After a saline flush, some cream and TLC, they were fine. It was quite a sight - a man and his dog sporting matching bright blue vet wrap on their feet - but both survived and Sammie's feet healed with no problems or visits to the vet. We just kept an eye on this and all other scrapes and nicks to make sure they healed properly with no signs of infection. I firmly believe in the power of Neosporin! --Johnnie Edited May 15, 2008 by jonah305 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lauri Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Back home and 'home' vet work is done! Got saline flush for wounds, Neosporin, gauze pads, and something like the vet wrap - the stuff that sticks only to itself. I'm sure it'll do until I can go to the feedstore for animal strength wrap. I'm going to leave the sock off until tomorrow. I'll just keep Miles locked in our room tonight so he'll stay out of trouble! Thanks for the advice. I figured this probably wouldn't warrant a vet visit. ANd the $35 I spent on supplies will keep Miles put together for a while! Oh...and being that the drug store closes at 10 p.m. and my first post was at 9:32 p.m., I had to go to the store in pajamas! By the time I knew what had to be done it was a quarter 'till! Why isn't it that these animals don't hurt themselves BEFORE we go to dinner - right in the same shopping center that the drug store is in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FullMetalFrank Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I am glad you got him patched up. Great reminder for us all to check our first aid kit supplies and make sure they are up to date; I don't want to go to the drugstore in my jammies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jonah305 Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 (edited) All I can say is.....thank goodness, though, for the 24-hour Walgreens and Walmarts when you've got an emergency! Glad to hear Miles is all set-up. Are you taking bets on how long the wrap will last before he chews it off? Edited May 15, 2008 by jonah305 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lauri Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 (edited) Alrighty-then... It's been replaced twice! Frikken frakkin Greyhounds and heir weird shapes make it hard to put on bandages! Sprayed it with bitter apple this time. He's not chewing but when he licks it, it slides down is leg! I just realized that since the sore is on the front of his thigh, right where it goes to the skinny part, the bandage and dressings just slide down his leg when he walks. I'm just gonna have to come home to let him potty today. Oh well...the things we do! Edited May 15, 2008 by lauri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheDoggfather Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 If it's no bigger than a quarter, as you say, then I wouldn't even worry about bandaging it. Seriously, even if he's licking it... big "fricken fracken" deal Dogs got along for thousands of years cleaning and taking care of their wounds long before we came along and they seemed to do just fine. You might want to look into getting some Bag Balm, however. I swear by the stuff... as soon as I see one of our puppies with a new hole, I slather that stuff right on top of the wound. No gauze, no vet wrap, no tape, no sock... no nuffin. Just let the stuff go to work and in a few days you should see healing. From there it's just a matter of time before the wound closes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sheila Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I agree with leaving it open unless the licking is causing it to get bigger. My Kiowa will lick a small wound into a large one if left unattended. You could try a pair of kids sweat pants or a pair of panty hose with one leg cut off to the waist band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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