Scrotal Chafing After Shaving For Surgery

[grabonsam]

My BC boy had a knee arthroscopy last week for suspected partial cruciate tear. It was expected that immediately after the scope his specialist would go on to perform TPLO surgery. Fortunately his knee was pristine, unfortunately we have no idea now what's wrong with his leg. The problem is they shaved a huge area, including his groin and the edge of his scrotum which was also grazed by whatever they did the shave with. Over the next couple of days his scrotum became very irritated, red, swollen, infected and extremely painful. The local vet gave him a cortisone injection and neotopic-H lotion. This didn't help and we ended up at the emergency center in Essendon. They were fabulous. The vet there prescribed antibiotics - keflin, tramadol for pain, and rimodyl anti-inflammatories to start the next morning. Things are improving but his scrotum still looks very unhealthy and we'll be off to the local vet again this morning. Has anyone had an experience like this? I need some advice about how to prevent chafing until the hair grows back to protect his scotum. Also any tips on what is safe to use to sooth the skin for him. The tramadol is helping and he's very good about ot not licking, but looks obviously uncomfortable. The neotopic-H cream causes him enormous distress and I'm supposed to be applying it twice a day still, as well as the oral keflin. I can't find any info with a google search about anything like this, or about the skin on his scrotum being able to regenerate to full recovery. With all due respect to those of you who are passionately pro castration that's something I want to avoid unless it becomes absolutely essential.

Thanks

[Erny]

Grabonsam .... this is more a bit of a 'guess' until someone else comes in to offer advice, than something I have tried and tested, but what about a lubricant like K-Y jelly? Or better still perhaps some bepanthen which is a nappy rash cream. I used some of the latter through the inside of my boy's legs recently when they first showed up with a rash/sores . It seemed to help and it did stay a bit oily but not overly so (although I only applied it once - a build up of it could be worse). I'd only be concerned about it attracting dirt and by the sounds of it your boy's skin sounds considerably worse. I wouldn't apply it around any wound sites though, for this reason.

Edited April 26, 2009 by Erny

[k9kutz]

Illium Neocort cream??

[Kelly_Louise]

When Chloe has had chafing (usually from her licking constantly with her allergic reactions and skin allergies) mum uses Savalon. The vet didnt recommend it as it is for humans, but its always helped Chloe for minor irritations. They did give us a cream to use the last time (she forever has skin issues now) but I dont recall the name of it.

We have tried a cocktail of meds/creams for Chloe and they usually work - it's just a matter of finding the right and most effective combination for your boy.

Hoping he heals up soon - some meds will take a few days to work though. With the last time she had a bad attack the new meds took 2 - 3 days before she looked more comfortable. Mum assumed they werent working but they just needed time.

[shoemonster]

I used paw paw ointment on Ed, he had burn/chaffing after surgery for abdominal gas and afterwards he got extreme diarhea, his skin was peeling off, and the paw paw healed it up quickly, I also used it on his incision/scar and you can barely even see it (and his belly is pretty bald)

[lucylotto]

My BC boy had a knee arthroscopy last week for suspected partial cruciate tear. It was expected that immediately after the scope his specialist would go on to perform TPLO surgery. Fortunately his knee was pristine, unfortunately we have no idea now what's wrong with his leg. The problem is they shaved a huge area, including his groin and the edge of his scrotum which was also grazed by whatever they did the shave with. Over the next couple of days his scrotum became very irritated, red, swollen, infected and extremely painful. The local vet gave him a cortisone injection and neotopic-H lotion. This didn't help and we ended up at the emergency center in Essendon. They were fabulous. The vet there prescribed antibiotics - keflin, tramadol for pain, and rimodyl anti-inflammatories to start the next morning. Things are improving but his scrotum still looks very unhealthy and we'll be off to the local vet again this morning. Has anyone had an experience like this? I need some advice about how to prevent chafing until the hair grows back to protect his scotum. Also any tips on what is safe to use to sooth the skin for him. The tramadol is helping and he's very good about ot not licking, but looks obviously uncomfortable. The neotopic-H cream causes him enormous distress and I'm supposed to be applying it twice a day still, as well as the oral keflin. I can't find any info with a google search about anything like this, or about the skin on his scrotum being able to regenerate to full recovery. With all due respect to those of you who are passionately pro castration that's something I want to avoid unless it becomes absolutely essential.

Thanks

'penaten' zinc cream, used for nappy rash. great barrier and zinc for healing. Sounds like when shaved the skin has been grazed and infected with staph. The reason we don't shave skin directly prior to surgery on humans anymore in cases such as arthroscope - more chance of inviting unwanted bugs into knee joint.

[stormie]

Sounds funny, but what about making him a little pouch for his scrotum to protect it from chafing?

[grabonsam]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I actually tried some bepanthen on saturday, but he was still in so much pain at that point he strongly objected. I will give it another try today though. I have also just bought a tub of pawpaw ointment - at the vet's suggestion before I read this, so also great suggestion. I think the idea of making him a little pouch is brilliant. I've been thinking about it all weekend trying to come up with ideas as to what to make it out of and how to secure it. It would need to be super soft as he is stilll very red and irritated and sore. Good news from his doctor though, she's confident all will be ok eventually. She can see big improvements since friday.

cheers, and thanks for the support

[Kelly_Louise]

I've never had a male dog, so cant imagine how you'd go about it, but perhaps surrounding it with cotton wool and then securing it with tape (not tightly of course)? Dunno, but it makes me giggle just thinking of such a contraption - poor doggy would be rolling his eyes!!!

I can imagine that it would be eye wateringly sore though.

Glad there has been some improvement. Any ideas on what could be wrong with his leg yet?

[mita]

My BC boy had a knee arthroscopy last week for suspected partial cruciate tear. It was expected that immediately after the scope his specialist would go on to perform TPLO surgery. Fortunately his knee was pristine, unfortunately we have no idea now what's wrong with his leg. The problem is they shaved a huge area, including his groin and the edge of his scrotum which was also grazed by whatever they did the shave with. Over the next couple of days his scrotum became very irritated, red, swollen, infected and extremely painful. The local vet gave him a cortisone injection and neotopic-H lotion. This didn't help and we ended up at the emergency center in Essendon. They were fabulous. The vet there prescribed antibiotics - keflin, tramadol for pain, and rimodyl anti-inflammatories to start the next morning. Things are improving but his scrotum still looks very unhealthy and we'll be off to the local vet again this morning. Has anyone had an experience like this?

Thanks

We had exactly the same experience with our tibbie girl when she had an exploratory procedure under general anaesthetic, to check her anal glands for cancer.

The specialist vet asked me before the operation, did she have any other conditions. I said she had a strong tendency to skin allergy.

After the operation, all around her rear end was exactly the same as your boy's. I can only think that the hair was shaved right down to the skin & then copiously swabbed with anti-bacterial stuff. And the combination had appalling consequences for her skin. In fact, it looked exactly like serious burns. She screamed in agony. Vet gave us neotopic....but she still screamed in agony.

Finally, like you, we got to another vet who gave anti-inflammatories, anti-biotics & something for the pain. Also neotopic-H cream.

It was a horrible experience for that little dog....the severe pain & distress went on for days. Took a couple of weeks to get close to being normal.

I couldn't even say that it had been an necessary operation. The specialist vets said there could be cancer...yet the only evidence was her glands were blocked. I asked could it simply be impacted anal glands.

Well, she had the op....with the results showing no cancer....but the anal gland was impacted. Like I'd suggested.

We were extremely annoyed.....having paid around $800 for an operation which had not even been needed, but resulted in agony for our little one, as a consequence.

Interestingly, when the vet who finally gave emergency aid for her, phoned that vet hospital for specific info.....they had no mention of the anal gland surgery, nor of the serious skin consequences on their records. Frankly, I think they were worried they'd get sued.

Edited April 27, 2009 by mita

[k9kutz]

My BC boy had a knee arthroscopy last week for suspected partial cruciate tear. It was expected that immediately after the scope his specialist would go on to perform TPLO surgery. Fortunately his knee was pristine, unfortunately we have no idea now what's wrong with his leg. The problem is they shaved a huge area, including his groin and the edge of his scrotum which was also grazed by whatever they did the shave with. Over the next couple of days his scrotum became very irritated, red, swollen, infected and extremely painful. The local vet gave him a cortisone injection and neotopic-H lotion. This didn't help and we ended up at the emergency center in Essendon. They were fabulous. The vet there prescribed antibiotics - keflin, tramadol for pain, and rimodyl anti-inflammatories to start the next morning. Things are improving but his scrotum still looks very unhealthy and we'll be off to the local vet again this morning. Has anyone had an experience like this?

Thanks

We had exactly the same experience with our tibbie girl when she had an exploratory procedure under general anaesthetic, to check her anal glands for cancer.

The specialist vet asked me before the operation, did she have any other conditions. I said she had a strong tendency to skin allergy.

After the operation, all around her rear end was exactly the same as your boy's. I can only think that the hair was shaved right down to the skin & then copiously swabbed with anti-bacterial stuff. And the combination had appalling consequences for her skin. In fact, it looked exactly like serious burns. She screamed in agony. Vet gave us neotopic....but she still screamed in agony.

Finally, like you, we got to another vet who gave anti-inflammatories, anti-biotics & something for the pain. Also neotopic-H cream.

It was a horrible experience for that little dog....the severe pain & distress went on for days. Took a couple of weeks to get close to being normal.

I couldn't even say that it had been an necessary operation. The specialist vets said there could be cancer...yet the only evidence was her glands were blocked. I asked could it simply be impacted anal glands.

Well, she had the op....with the results showing no cancer....but the anal gland was impacted. Like I'd suggested.

We were extremely annoyed.....having paid around $800 for an operation which had not even been needed, but resulted in agony for our little one, as a consequence.

Interestingly, when the vet who finally gave emergency aid for her, phoned that vet hospital for specific info.....they had no mention of the anal gland surgery, nor of the serious skin consequences on their records. Frankly, I think they were worried they'd get sued.

I dont think its the vet's fault. It is nessecary to shave close to the skin and thoroughly clean the area, to perform such procedures. Some dogs are very sensitive, some dogs i groom skin will go right off just from the use of a #10 blade on the sani areas, this is a standard grooming practice and once we know a dog is senseitive in this way can to our best to avoid or minmise fututre irritaion, vets dont have this same chance but when prepping for surgery.

[mita]

I dont think its the vet's fault. It is nessecary to shave close to the skin and thoroughly clean the area, to perform such procedures. Some dogs are very sensitive, some dogs i groom skin will go right off just from the use of a #10 blade on the sani areas, this is a standard grooming practice and once we know a dog is senseitive in this way can to our best to avoid or minmise fututre irritaion, vets dont have this same chance but when prepping for surgery.

With respect, in the case of our dog, it was the vet's fault.

I suggested a possible less invasive diagnosis.....which would not have required surgery.

It wasn't checked out, subjecting the dog to an operation she didn't have to have...along with the consequences.

I also pointed out before the surgery that she had a strong tendency to skin allergy. So they knew she was hyper-allergenic. That would have the cue to take special care in any shaving/application of anti-bacterial material.

Her skin was appallingly inflamed straight after the operation & she was sent home in the late afternoon, following the surgery.....to scream in agony throughout the night.

There was no attempt by that vet to keep her in hospital in order to treat aggressively what were serious chemical 'burns'. Nor did they show any concern about those visible signs.

She had to be taken eventually to another vet....who was equally appalled by the condition she'd been sent home in.

And the original vet hospital must have been aware of fault.....because they neatly excised any mention of her anal gland 'surgery' & serious skin consequences from their records.

But this thread belongs to the OP. Who is trying to make things as comfortable as possible for the BC boy.

It is useful for people to know, tho', that there can be serious consequences for skin, following operating procedures. And immediate best- practice treatment should be started by the treating vet. Clients should not have to watch their dogs in untreated agony.....& then have to seek out another vet.

Edited April 27, 2009 by mita

[k9kutz]

True, i agree the vet should send home a course of treatment with the dog, if it is showing visable signs of irritation at the time of discharge. Although still dont know that a vet has alot of options re the close clipping and cleaning of the op site for the prepping of surgery etc

[4pups]

Can you put some curash powder on it. You can put it on babys with really bad open nappy rash and it provides instant comfort.

I use it on hot spots and they dry up straight away with causing discomfort.

[sas]

I don't know how big your dog is but we nearly had to make a ball bag for our boy when he was going through a hyper sensative phase, we were going to make a contraption similar to a jewelry bag:

In terms of creams, I wonder if Aloe would be any good as it's cooling - just to make the dog comfortable not to prevent the chafing.

Edited April 27, 2009 by sas

[puggy_puggy]

Go for the zinc oxide (nappy rash cream). Should dry everything up nicely.

I am currently using it to stop Poppy's cast rubbing on her leg and it is working a treat.

[grabonsam]

My BC boy had a knee arthroscopy last week for suspected partial cruciate tear. It was expected that immediately after the scope his specialist would go on to perform TPLO surgery. Fortunately his knee was pristine, unfortunately we have no idea now what's wrong with his leg. The problem is they shaved a huge area, including his groin and the edge of his scrotum which was also grazed by whatever they did the shave with. Over the next couple of days his scrotum became very irritated, red, swollen, infected and extremely painful. The local vet gave him a cortisone injection and neotopic-H lotion. This didn't help and we ended up at the emergency center in Essendon. They were fabulous. The vet there prescribed antibiotics - keflin, tramadol for pain, and rimodyl anti-inflammatories to start the next morning. Things are improving but his scrotum still looks very unhealthy and we'll be off to the local vet again this morning. Has anyone had an experience like this?

Thanks

We had exactly the same experience with our tibbie girl when she had an exploratory procedure under general anaesthetic, to check her anal glands for cancer.

The specialist vet asked me before the operation, did she have any other conditions. I said she had a strong tendency to skin allergy.

After the operation, all around her rear end was exactly the same as your boy's. I can only think that the hair was shaved right down to the skin & then copiously swabbed with anti-bacterial stuff. And the combination had appalling consequences for her skin. In fact, it looked exactly like serious burns. She screamed in agony. Vet gave us neotopic....but she still screamed in agony.

Finally, like you, we got to another vet who gave anti-inflammatories, anti-biotics & something for the pain. Also neotopic-H cream.

It was a horrible experience for that little dog....the severe pain & distress went on for days. Took a couple of weeks to get close to being normal.

I couldn't even say that it had been an necessary operation. The specialist vets said there could be cancer...yet the only evidence was her glands were blocked. I asked could it simply be impacted anal glands.

Well, she had the op....with the results showing no cancer....but the anal gland was impacted. Like I'd suggested.

We were extremely annoyed.....having paid around $800 for an operation which had not even been needed, but resulted in agony for our little one, as a consequence.

Interestingly, when the vet who finally gave emergency aid for her, phoned that vet hospital for specific info.....they had no mention of the anal gland surgery, nor of the serious skin consequences on their records. Frankly, I think they were worried they'd get sued.

I understand your frustration. The operation cost me $2200, to just to find out his knee was fine. So far I've speant another &300 on vet consultsand medication, with probably more to come, also, baby sitting costs and lost pay from missing work to take care of him adding about another $600 so far, and we're not done yet.

[grabonsam]

Go for the zinc oxide (nappy rash cream). Should dry everything up nicely.

I am currently using it to stop Poppy's cast rubbing on her leg and it is working a treat.

I'm a bit worried about using the zinc oxide, isn't it hard to clean off? Also, are you still able to see the skin clearly to assess, or does it leave a white residue. Can it make him sick if he does lick at it a bit?

[grabonsam]

I've never had a male dog, so cant imagine how you'd go about it, but perhaps surrounding it with cotton wool and then securing it with tape (not tightly of course)? Dunno, but it makes me giggle just thinking of such a contraption - poor doggy would be rolling his eyes!!!

I can imagine that it would be eye wateringly sore though.

Glad there has been some improvement. Any ideas on what could be wrong with his leg yet?

No idea what's wrong with his leg, but he doesn't go back to the specialist until monday week to get the stitches out and for further assessment. I don't think the cotton wool would work, as he fibres would get stuck on some areas that are a bit weepy, but thanks for thinking of him.

[Kelly_Louise]

Poor bugger, give him a hug for us. Must be terribly painful. Sorry I couldnt be more helpful but not much experience with doggy boy bits