Hi, I'm looking for a bit of advise please. Most of you will know Charlie had surgery on his carpal pad 2 weeks ago, he kindly removed the stitches and the vet decided to keep it covered and advised us to clean it in boiled cooled salted water which we have been doing rigourously every day, vet wrapped and he is wearing a Medipaw boot to stop him eating every dressing we apply This morning all was fine then this evening I noticed he is limping so we removed the boot and dressing and his whole foot from above the carpal pad down is pretty swollen and a little warm, not hot though. The wound has no smell and doesn't look oozy. Could this be the start of an infection? I can't see how as it's covered 24/7. We have removed all the dressing and have got him wearing a Comfy Cone to give him a rest from the boot and dressings. Any help would be greatly appreciated as we are so worried Thank you so very much. xxxx
Oh dear, poor boy, and poor you. What a trouble these paw injuries are. I'm sorry, I don't know. I'd be back off to the vet pronto unless it's looking better very soon. Perhaps the boot and the dressing is stopping the blood circulating or something like that?
Thanks Julie, exactly my thoughts, so keeping an eye on it at the moment with nothing on it, if it's no better it's back to the vet in the morning Considering I haven't done any cone training, silly me, Charlie is doing remarkably well, poor love xx
These injuries are so difficult and frustrating... When Obi's foot swelled up (following injury) it was because he had been licking it (cone got left off overnight by hubby...) and keeping it moist and inflamed. I would only use the medipaw boot for when he needs to go outside. Keeping it covered all the time (even with a bandage) will not help it heal as it will remain moist to some degree. Vet wrap is not very breathable. I'd say the problem is the foot is staying too moist under all that covering. The only approach that worked for us was no bandage or covering whatsoever indoors, combined with a very large rigid plastic cone that prevented Obi from getting his tongue near his foot. For outside trips and short walks we used a soft boot - this was on for brief periods only. Use a big cone to stop him getting at it, rather than layers of dressing. I'd go back to the vet and get their view on why it's swollen and talk to them about how you can best care for the wound. Keeping a foot clean and dry and open to the air is not easy but I suspect that is what it might take.
Thanks Rachael, Charlie has not been licking the site. I did query having it dressed all the time with the vet but she said keep it covered which is not what my instincts tell me. The wound looks pink and like you say moist I will leave the dressing/boot off tonight and leave the cone on which is a 30 cm and he absolutely cannot reach his foot as he has tried, and see how it is in the morning. I appreciate your help very much. xx
I'd say get him off to the vets and get them to check that it's not infected. Swelling could just be the first sign before any oozing or pus. Is it possible he could have knocked it and reopened the wound a bit to make it swell up again? I would also second Julie in saying that perhaps the bandage was too tight. Has he had it changed in the last 24hours?
Hi Lauren, Charlie removed his stitches 2 days after his op, therefore opening the wound. The vet decided not to restitch and keep it covered. The bandage wasn't tight as we are really careful not to do that. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow as I my gut is telling me it's the start of an infection. The wound is cleaned and dressed twice a day every day.
I'd do as you plan tonight, Helen - keep all foot coverings off and keep the plastic cone on. I hope that does the trick. Has Charlie been on antibiotics? We were really alarmed when Obi's foot swelled up - I thought something disastrous had happened. But it basically just needed to dry out and be left alone. Fingers crossed!!! I know what you are going through with this....
Hopefully the vet can shed some light on it tomorrow then! If it's the start of an infection hopefully you've caught it early enough to knock it out quickly with some antibiotics.
Rachael, he had antibiotic shot after his op and a prescription for a 5 day course of ABs which he finished. I was so shocked to see it swollen and feel just awful about it but we are just following our vets instructions even though it doesn't feel right to me. I hope he's going to be OK. I hope so Lauren.
I'm sure he will be fine, and all you can do is do what your vet tells you Maybe just have a chat about the merits of covering versus uncovering the wound. If it was an infection I'd expect it to be centred on the wound, with evidence of pus. The vet will know though.
Poor Charlie - better to check with the vet rather than worry about it. Its pretty stressful all this, you have my sympathy Helen. Hope things look up very soon.
I imagine you will be seeing the vet tomorrow (Thursday) to put your mind at rest. The swelling might be due to the bandage being too tight?
Nothing useful to add except sympathy. I've been through this with my previous dog...having to keep a healing pad injury clean and dry and yet also trying to take the dog outside for walks and toilet is a nightmare to say the least. I had to restrict my dog's activity outside severely as it was spring and the snow was melting and everything was soggy wet outside. Ugh. Foot injuries are the worst. Hope Charlie is on the mend soon!
Morning and thank you all for your help. Charlie's foot is far less swollen this morning and still no evidence of pus so that's great. He slept with his cone on and is doing really well with it. I still think popping him to the vet to rule out anything nasty is the best thing for him. They open at 9 am. I have had easier areas to deal with on a dog, this is a real nightmare but nothing to what some owners have to deal with. xx
Good to hear that the swelling has improved and that he is being such a good boy with the cone. Fingers crossed for the vets.
GOOD NEWS The vet said there is definitely no infection, we are so relieved. It could have been the dressing was too tight, David got a flea in his ear as he did that one Also the wound is healing nicely so we can leave dressings off and use the cone if Charlie is ok with it or just the boot. She said we could leave it totally uncovered but I'm not convinced about that as he wouldn't stop licking it, although she said that was ok . At the moment he has the boot on but switching to the cone soon to let the air at it. Panic over - for now Thank you all for your concern and help xxx
