Guest Fasave Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 All I want is one month without a visit to the vet But, Thunder started licking his foot on Sunday and I found what appears to be a puncture wound in the webbing between his toes. It's a little red but I think that's mostly from his licking and the fact he's a white pup so you can see the skin tone better. I don't see any swelling, puss or blood. I soak it in a betadyne solution a few times a day generally after he's been outside. Aside from a little licking, he's not bothered by it. I just can't imagine how this is going to heal. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamsmom Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Just my opinion but I wouldn't. I would just wash it twice a day and probably put some triple antibiotic ointment on it. Basically just watch it and keep it clean. It is a small wound and should be ok to heal on it's own. However, it is your dog and I am only judging based on one photo. Quote ~Beth, with a crazy mixed crew of misfits.~ Forever and Always missing and loving Steak, Carmen, Ivy, Isis, and Madi.Don't cry because it's ended, Smile because it happened.Before you judge me, try to keep an open mind, not everyone likes your taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greysonly Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 (edited) Marley has had the same kind of puncture wound. His was a little deeper tho. I got him stitches but he ended up pulling them out. I had a sock on it and everything But it healed just fine. So I think what you are doing is good. I too would put antibiotic ointment. I would put a sock on it and when he went outside I would put a little plastic grocery bag around it just to keep it clean. edited because I wanted to say I put a sock on it and over the sock I would put a plastic grocery bag when he went out. Edited February 9, 2010 by greysonly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jurishound Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Owie. Probably not, Melissa. A baby sock taped (not too tight) at the ankle should keep him from licking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheUnrulyHound Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Streamer and Cabby have both had this exact wound. I think it is from running their foot into a stick out in the yard. I did a lot of rinsing with water the first few days plus ointment but eventually it needs to dry out so after a few days of flushing it and putting on ointment I would just wrap it loosely in gauze and put a sock over it and make sure it stays dry and clean. Be carefull when you inspect the foot so that you do not open the wound back up once it has kinda glued itself closed. If you can keep the hound calm for a week or so that will speed healing as well. But no, no stitches needed unless he bothers it enough to make it open further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fastdogs Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Make a paste of Milk of Magnesia and corn stark and smear it in there. If you can keep T from licking it for a few days, it will heal quite nicely. Bo had a lump removed from his hock and licked it constantly. I finally gave it a pasting and wrap it for a couple of days. Healed very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tydyelady Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Opie had a wound in the same spot - but it was punctured all the way through! It was a freak accident, when a harbinger (sp?) clip from another dog's collar that he was playing with got caught on his foot and it punctured it. I washed it very good, used peroxide to clean, then used EMT gel (a miracle ointment IMHO) and a baby sock on his foot to keep him from licking. He was good as new in about a week! I couldn't believe how fast it healed. So no, I don't think it needs stitches at all. Quote Mom to Toley (Astascocita Toley) DOB 1/12/09, and Bridge Angel Opie (Wine Sips Away) 3/14/03-12/29/12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I wouldn't stitch it. I'd just clean it good, put some antibiotic ointment on it, and keep a toddler sock on it. Just watch for pus, oozing, swelling, redness, etc., but I think it should be fine. If you DO see signs of infection, you can maybe call the vet and get him/her to prescribe some oral antibiotics, like Keflex. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FastDogsOwnMe Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 If that was on my dog: I would not stitch it. I would clean it well, possibly with listerine. Not peroxide, except maybe within minutes of the injury occurring. I would get some Keflex (Cephalexin) to have on hand For example this. I would discourage licking, but also try to let it stay dry and clean as much as possible. That is just what *I* would do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatricksMom Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Epson salt in hot water soaks can also keep things clean, and can relieve swelling and pain. I wouldn't stitch at this point, and I would imagine most vets would say it's been too long. If he won't leave the sock on, secure the top with vet wrap--make sure it's not too tight. Quote Beth, Petey (8 September 2018- ), and Faith (22 March 2019). Godspeed Patrick (28 April 1999 - 5 August 2012), Murphy (23 June 2004 - 27 July 2013), Leo (1 May 2009 - 27 January 2020), and Henry (10 August 2010 - 7 August 2020), you were loved more than you can know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jettcricket Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I wouldn't either. My little man, Duffy, had split his webbing back in December on some ice. We just kept it clean and wrapped and it healed very nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazehund Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Nope. I would keep it as clean as possible, apply a little EMT Gel and leave it open to the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiffer Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Nope, definitely not. Just keep it clean and disinfected and it'll heal in no time. Quote Jennifer and Beamish (an unnamed Irish-born Racer) DOB: October 30, 2011 Forever and always missing my "Vowels", Icarus, Atlas, Orion, Uber, and Miss Echo, and Mojito. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 (edited) Nope. No stitches. Keep it clean and dry and that's it. Water therapy a couple times a day might be a good idea that will help keep debris out of it. Should heal fine, but watch for infection. You should not need any antibiotics unless your dog is immunosuppressed for some reason. Dogs have pretty good natural immune systems. I'd let the dog lick, if they were inclined but not obsess on it. Most likely they won't, but if he does a light baby sock should do nicely. You don't want to create too much of a warm, dark place if you an avoid it. Edited February 9, 2010 by KennelMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreysAndMoreGreys Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 What you have there is what we call at the tracks as "a spike" Meaning one dogs nails stepped on the other dog and punctured the webbing. Kennel protocall is we just flush with a dilute of betadine/water once or twice a day. That's pretty much it. No stitching, no wrap, no creams or salves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvAPuppy Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 **Slightly OT** & directed @fastdogs: curious about the MOM paste....I work in health care but have never heard about this one. Would you enlighten me? I love new stuff! From a human nursing standpoint, his wound looks really good. I agree with just keeping it clean, dry and do your best to keep it non-infected. I have nothing new to add that others haven't already recommended. Quote Angie, Pewter, and Storm-puppy Forever missing Misty-Mousie (9/9/99 - 10/5/15)Fort Wayne, Indiana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fasave Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Thanks everyone!!! I'm with this guy pretty much 24/7 and can't believe that I didn't at some point hear the GSD. Glad to hear that people are thinking it's looking okay at the moment and will heal in time. We're about to get a fair amount of snow here and seeing that Thunder won't poop in the yard the needs to be walked, I'll keep it covered to protect it from the road salt as well. Thanks again all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheDoggfather Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Just my opinion but I wouldn't. I would just wash it twice a day and probably put some triple antibiotic ointment on it. Basically just watch it and keep it clean. It is a small wound and should be ok to heal on it's own. However, it is your dog and I am only judging based on one photo. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fastdogs Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 **Slightly OT** & directed @fastdogs: curious about the MOM paste....I work in health care but have never heard about this one. Would you enlighten me? I love new stuff! From a human nursing standpoint, his wound looks really good. I agree with just keeping it clean, dry and do your best to keep it non-infected. I have nothing new to add that others haven't already recommended. The MOM paste came from CG Magazine. I think it may have been the Summer 2009 issue. Anecdotally, I heard stories of it being used on humans for sores/wounds that are difficult to heal. As I indicated, my guy had a lump removed from his hock that had a really difficult time healing. There wasn't much skin to use to close the wound, plus he licked it incessantly. Wrapping it only made he work on it more. Finally, I used MOM w/ some corn stark to make a paste, applied it and wrapped it one more time. The wrap lasted two days, but by then there was significant improvement. Within a week, it was healed enough that he left it alone. As of yesterday, it was just a little bald spot on his leg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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