So here we are on our holiday, having a lovely time. Lots of training long blinds in the fields, long walks, pheasants, deer, sheep; heaven for Poppy, who just loves it here... Until she sliced her foot open yesterday on a walk with OH (it's always his fault - AND he didn't have his mobile phone with him, thank god it wasn't a worse cut; she might have bled to death). They got back to the cottage with Poppy literally covered in blood - we stopped the bleeding, and since the cut didn't look too bad we decided to wait until the morning to see the vet. She slept next to our bed, and all seemed well enough. Well, first thing this morning the vet saw her, said the cut is deeper than it looks, and needs stitching. Poor Poppy is being prepped for anaesthesia now and will then have the stitching done, we can get her back this afternoon. Such a run of bad luck the poor girl has had this year - ripped a claw out in January, attacked by the Ridgebacks in March, and now this. And of course my huge fear (which I discussed with the vet) is that the stress of having the bandage will make her have another seizure... oh I do feel down about it all.
Oh Karen, All that sounds horrible. Hopefully Poppy will be back to you almost as good as new this afternoon. Thinking of you, as I know that when your much loved dog is hurt, you hurt too. Hugs from Adelaide, Australia
Oh poor Poppy and what a worry for you. You should be hearing very soon now that she's through it. Thinking of you.
Oh no! That is just horrible bad luck. So sorry - it really is a bad run. Would she be ok without a bandage if she wore a cone?
So sorry to hear. I know what you mean about worrying that stress will bring on a seizure. I hope she is not stressed out at all. Snowie had to go under anaesthesia earlier this year for an MRI to detect a bulging disc and I was terrified he'd have a seizure during anaesthesia and/or after. I was in tears when we had to hand him over to the nurse. She was just lovely and thankfully knew my husband from years before so I felt she would take extra care of Snowie. I am pleased to say that he had no seizures, during or after, although he was very weird after the anaesthesia (determined yet wobbly, paid no attention to us, only interested in smells around him), took a few hours to come back to normal and want to engage with us. I guess most people accept this is the result of anaesthesia, but with a seizure dog one worries more. I do hope Poppy doesn't have a seizure and that her paw heals quickly and well. Best of luck. (Not to make you worry more, but did you tell them she is prone to seizures? For seizure dogs, I was told by the vet, they use a different chemical for anaesthesia -- I'm sorry I don't remember the details.)
I didn't know cut paws could be stitched! My one GSP managed to cut all four at different times, one time the vet's waiting room looked like a slaughterhouse with her blood! I do understand your fear of a seizure having had an epileptic GSP, fingers crossed that she won't.
She's back here in the cottage with us, groggy and sleepy, with a big blue bandage on her foot. The bandage has to stay on till Wednesday, when we go back to have it checked. Maybe it can stay off then, but to be honest I doubt it. Julie, on Wednesday we will make a decision as to whether to try the cone or not, but at any rate the bandage has to stay on for the first couple of days. MF, I did discuss the seizure thing with the vet, but so far she has only ever had one seizure - the problem is, it was as a result of having an injured paw and having to wear a bandage... I have diazepam, for emergency use in case of a seizure. Also, I just managed to stop them giving her metacam, as she had such a bad reaction on it last time. Oh the worry I just hate this. Poor little thing - and all she has is a sliced pad! I don't know how you wonderful people cope, when your dogs have to have major surgery, I take my hat off to you all.
Oh Karen, how awful for you all..... I really really hope Poppy sails through this. You need a break. Thinking of you xxx
I hope she's comfy in her bandage and it doesn't worry her xxx Riley spent a little over a week in his when he sliced his pad from memory and they wanted longer but it was rubbing his hock so we had to take it off and just go with boots when he was outside. I think we did another week of boots. Riley had sliced a 5p piece off his though so it couldn't be stitched shut.
Glad she is home, I do hope it is all ok, and heals up quickly. Best wishes, and plenty of crossed fingers and paws for you here that she has a quiet night.
