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by VKGSDs on 23 March 2014 - 01:03
I had something similar though less drastic happen a few years back. I was gone for a week, left the dogs home with my husband, and when I got backed I noticed some spots of blood on a bedspread. I checked all my dogs and found my male GSD had a really bad split nail on a rear foot. The "quick" had become hugely swollen, very red, the nail had split into the toe, and my dog was starting to limp. Long story short, he required two rounds of different antibiotics to clear the infection. He also got a pain killer for the first week. I did the Epsom salt soaks 2-3 times a day. I really think that helps, since I've had an infection in a fingernail myself and holy frickin moly I never thought a fingertip could HURT so BAD, but the Epsom soaks really helped me almost immediately. It took a long time for my dog's nail to heal because he was constantly chewing on it. In the end, we had a routine of keeping it bandaged with him wearing a basket muzzle while I was at work and a cone while I was home. I changed the bandage every time I did the Epsom soak. I would also slowly cut away the dead tissue and pieces of nail. The vet was worried about the infection going deep and having to amputate the toe but we just gave it time and it did heal. His nail regrew and was sort of white and brittle for a while but is now black like all the others.
by clc29 on 23 March 2014 - 01:03
Jenni...Holy cow!!
That was some injury. Glad to hear your Bf's girl recovered well.
The bandage thing sounds like Ava.
She will tolerate the boot for outdoor excursions and the sock I tape to her foot at night. I can't put the cone on her in her crate so I tape (athletic and co-flex) a sock around her foot at night.
I found some "No Chew" Co flex bandage and I wrap it around the sock that is on the metatarsal bone section...so far it works great :)
I was planning on calling my ortho vet on Monday for the second opinion.
Thankfully she is insured so it won't be a huge hit to my pocket book if we have to go the surgery route.
That was some injury. Glad to hear your Bf's girl recovered well.
The bandage thing sounds like Ava.
She will tolerate the boot for outdoor excursions and the sock I tape to her foot at night. I can't put the cone on her in her crate so I tape (athletic and co-flex) a sock around her foot at night.
I found some "No Chew" Co flex bandage and I wrap it around the sock that is on the metatarsal bone section...so far it works great :)
I was planning on calling my ortho vet on Monday for the second opinion.
Thankfully she is insured so it won't be a huge hit to my pocket book if we have to go the surgery route.
by clc29 on 23 March 2014 - 01:03
VKGSD's......Yeah....nail injuries hurt the worst IMO for us and the dogs. I always seem to bang mine....on everything....when I get one.
Thankfully she doesn't seem to mind the soaks....I do them while she is eating :) If she has any discomfort she doesn't show it.
I suspect her food drive overcomes any discomfort.
Thankfully she doesn't seem to mind the soaks....I do them while she is eating :) If she has any discomfort she doesn't show it.
I suspect her food drive overcomes any discomfort.
by joanro on 23 March 2014 - 02:03
I didn't think you were making light of it, but a toe amputation on a grown dog is serious no matter which toe it is. Sounds like you are on the right track.
Btw, the dew claw hits on straight away at a full gallop...if you track your dog when it runs full out, you will see the long slide mark of the stopper protecting the end of the long bone when it hits the ground as the wrist gives on impact and the long deep cut of the dew claw in the ground.
Btw, the dew claw hits on straight away at a full gallop...if you track your dog when it runs full out, you will see the long slide mark of the stopper protecting the end of the long bone when it hits the ground as the wrist gives on impact and the long deep cut of the dew claw in the ground.
by Jyl on 29 March 2014 - 05:03
How is Ava doing?
by Ryanhaus on 29 March 2014 - 14:03
Ava is beautiful! 
I was going to say epsom salt, that stuff is great, and then I just use bacitracin ointment.
I don't think that toenail will ever grow back, one less to trim,
hope she is feeling better soon and you are able to remove the cone of shame
I was going to say epsom salt, that stuff is great, and then I just use bacitracin ointment.
I don't think that toenail will ever grow back, one less to trim,
hope she is feeling better soon and you are able to remove the cone of shame
by Ruger1 on 29 March 2014 - 15:03
Yes, how is Ava doing??,,,poor pup,,
by GSDPACK on 29 March 2014 - 15:03
Every one of my dogs has had some sort of toe injury, broken, ripped, dissatached (dont ask me how, but it was clearly NOT ATTACHED in the x-ray).. I would not be amputating till it really causes discomfort to her.
by clc29 on 29 March 2014 - 17:03
Hello Everyone :)
Thanks for asking about Ava Baby.
Her toe is healing slowly......I'll take some pictures and post them later this afternoon.
We went in for a recheck last Tues. and my vet changed the treatment course. We've stopped the soaks and changed to Betadine (diluted to dark tea color) clean outs with a curved syringe, then wrapping it over night with sulfa...something or other (same stuff they put on burn patients). I told him I was using the Vetricyn and he told me to stop using it for now. It's looking pretty good. Starting to close up.
I was really happy that I got to see my old time vet and friend for the recheck. He doesn't want to do any surgery unless we have to.....gave us a 50/50 chance that the toe bone will calcify and heal well. He doesn't think the risk of infection is as great as the bone splinter causing a problem. If we have to do surgery, to take the small bone fragment out, I'm going to have him do it and not the other vet (the one that wanted to take two joints) in his office.
Cheri
Thanks for asking about Ava Baby.
Her toe is healing slowly......I'll take some pictures and post them later this afternoon.
We went in for a recheck last Tues. and my vet changed the treatment course. We've stopped the soaks and changed to Betadine (diluted to dark tea color) clean outs with a curved syringe, then wrapping it over night with sulfa...something or other (same stuff they put on burn patients). I told him I was using the Vetricyn and he told me to stop using it for now. It's looking pretty good. Starting to close up.
I was really happy that I got to see my old time vet and friend for the recheck. He doesn't want to do any surgery unless we have to.....gave us a 50/50 chance that the toe bone will calcify and heal well. He doesn't think the risk of infection is as great as the bone splinter causing a problem. If we have to do surgery, to take the small bone fragment out, I'm going to have him do it and not the other vet (the one that wanted to take two joints) in his office.
Cheri
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