Larry Tore The Webbing Between A Toe :(

[RaineysMom]

This past Sunday, Larry went out to pee (was out for 20 seconds max) and when I let him in there was some blood on the towel I keep right at the door. Upon inspection, he tore the webbing on his back left paw, between the innermost toe and the next one out. It looks pretty long, like at least 1/2 " tear It bled quite a bit -- I sprayed some EMT stuff on it, put a piece of gauze in the cut (not all the way up), wrapped it, and put a sock end on it and vet wrapped it. We've been soaking the foot in Epsom salt each night, letting it dry out as best it can, and the wrapping it all back up. On Monday, Tuesday I put some raw honey (I don't know if that's the same as Manuka honey?) but left it plain last night.

 

He's going in to see the vet tomorrow at 1pm -- I don't think there is much if anything they can do (such as stitch it) but I'd like to maybe get him on some antibiotics just in case....would not want this to get infected.

 

he's walking just fine, no limp (thank GOD) and seems his usual happy self (except he has to be leash walked outside every time, we put a bread bag over the sock to keep it dry -- and not happy he's not getting his daily walkie).

 

Obviously the vet might have some other suggestions but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of other things I could be doing to help it heal? Doing a search here, I got the impression it takes a LONG time for this type of wound to heal .

 

Thanks!

[greysmom]

Anything involving feet takes a long time to heal. They use their feet for everything, so there's a lot of stress on that skin/bone/muscle. Even if the vet suggests it, I wouldn't put him under to stitch a torn web. They fail way to easily to risk the anesthesia. I think it happens to greyhounds all the time - at least it happens all the time with mine! I do what you're doing, minus the honey and plus antibiotic spray (either neosporin or bactine, whatever I have). It will heal up sooner than you think.

Edited December 19, 2013 by greysmom

[Houndtime]

I have had two dogs that tore the webbing. It is very difficult to stitch and keep stitched. We kept it clean, covered and when they went out, our vet gave us an IV bag to use as a cover. Since you will be at the vet, ask for one. It is a heavy plastic and we taped it closed for outside. I even walked one of them with the foot cover. Good luck. It will take a while, but it will heal.

[buddibear]

Stormy ran through the house and caught his front toes in the binding of the area rug. The rug sliced through the web and I did not see a lot of blood. I sprayed antibiotic and let it go. 2 weeks passed and time for vaccines and checkup.Dr looked at toes and found a nice puss infection. He washed ,put something like a yellow salve and wrapped the foot. Antibiotics ordered It did take a couple weeks to heal, but no stitches

[kudzu]

We didn't stitch my girl's torn webbing. It was torn all the way. I just let it heal on it's own for the most part. I didn't do any bandaging but did keep a toddler sock on that foot to keep her from messing with it. I used a PAWZ boot over that for going out. (Because the plastic wrap/bags took longer, annoyed her more & sometimes leaked.) Your epsom salt soaks are a good idea, also.

 

Yes, it took a long time to heal. That was a lot of leash walking. However, it healed well & she never had another problem from it.

 

Good luck.

[macoduck]

Thane's stitching in that area just didn't hold. However, glue (applied by the vet) did work well.

[Guest grey_dreams]

On Monday, Tuesday I put some raw honey (I don't know if that's the same as Manuka honey?) ...

 

 

Sorry for Larry's torn webbing. Haven't had to deal with that, but just wanted to mention that the medical grade Manuka honey is what you want, not regular honey, and it has to be medical grade and from New Zealand. Something like this. Hope it will heal soon.

[gryhnd2]

Oh no! No advice but sending healing thoughts for Larry. Riley had his own toe issue this month with a fracture. After a week in a splint plus codeine and Metacam continuing into next month he's back to his silly self this week. His foot still looks a little wonky but he's much improved. Hope Larry heals quickly.

Sorry for Larry's torn webbing. Haven't had to deal with that, but just wanted to mention that the medical grade Manuka honey is what you want, not regular honey, and it has to be medical grade and from New Zealand. Something like this. Hope it will heal soon.

Manuka honey isn't the only healing honey. We used a local unprocessed honey on a leg wound with success in the past. Edited December 20, 2013 by gryhnd2

[cleptogrey]

annie did that last winter/spring to her front paw. she now has the vulcan salute-

my vet told me to debris it 2xs a day w/ hydrogen peroxide. she didn't flinch when i worked on it. basically that will build up scar tissue and it took one week of bandaging which was the biggest challenge. but i healed, i became very very good at bandaging and she hoaned her skills at eating thru vet wrap.

 

so, it's one week of healing, no running for at least a week or preferably 2 after that initial week and your dog too will live long and prosper!

Edited December 20, 2013 by cleptogrey

[PatricksMom]

I've dealt with this more than once. The first time we tried stitches (I think 17) + splint, it was horrible, all kinds of pressure sores from the splint, still didn't heal closed. Second time, soaked it 3x a day in warm water with epsom salts, used antibiotic cream, and kept it wrapped lightly with gauze, vet wrap, and then a baby sock the rest of the time. The end result was the same.

[dex95lucy]

Bancroft did the same thing her first winter with me. Kept it clean, used antiobiotic ointment, covered with a sock. Took a while to heal but I knew it would be worthless to try to suture the area. There just wasn't much to suture, so it was a matter of getting the sides of the two toes involved to heal.

 

I agree, feet problems are miserable. She now has SLO and is losing nails. Plastic bag with duck tape, then sock and tape works well to go out, but is time consuming for her. So far the three types of boots I have tried do not work well at all.