Toe Problem

[OSoSwift]

Okay brief run down.

6th Oct - Rommi punctured something straight into the bottom of her pad on a toe on her front leg.

Flushed Ab,s. Abcessed, wound opened up flushed drained, pus and gunk came out.

Appeared to heal up, lamness nearly gone.

Then foreign body lump noticed in webbing between toes, not lame at this stage. Foreign body removed and looked like a wood like item, very small.

Appeared sound.

Started going lame, within two days(whilst being watched for abcessing) a very small hole appeared in the exact sopt of original injury.

A large piece of sand came out, serous discharge, poulticed abs again.

Now

I have a dog that was not lame for one day, now back to limping if she steps on a gravel stone, or a very lumpy uneven surface, sound on grass and inside.

There is some residual swelling of said toe, no red spots or pin point areas.

I have asked about xrays (worried about joint damaged/infection). Vet said unlikely as she is showing no signs of infection. Also if any foreign bodies are remaining and they are sand or wood like they will not show up on xray. She is reluctant (as am I) to open up her toe with no specific area to target.

So I have a dog that is not better, but no worse for a period of weeks. It has been around 8 weeks since the beginning.

I am lost for what to do next. Vet thinks leave it and see what happens, but at the moment not much! I am edging towards an xray and if it shows up nothing so be it, but it may. If I do and it doesn't what next?????

I have been told worse case senario we amputate her toe. I will do whatever it takes to fix it well before that is an option. It is a middle toe. I feel totally helpless, she is not her normal self and I have a dog who wants to go for walks etc, but when we walk(all our farm tracks are gravel and too unsafe -snakes- to walk in the grassy areas) I have a dog that limps, not constantly, but enough I don't want to walk her and cause her pain. SHe is eating, playing normally. She will race around with the other Whippet and not think about it.

Any idea about a plan of attack?? I feel totally over it all and just want to do something!

[Fit for a King]

any antibiotics in all of this?

[poodlefan]

Is the foot sensitive or still injured?

What happens if you put a protective covering (eg. a boot) over the pads?

Has she seen a chiropractor?

Edited December 4, 2009 by poodlefan

[OSoSwift]

any antibiotics in all of this?

She has been on three different courses of antibiotics and there appears to be no infection at this time. No redness or pinpoint area of soreness.

[OSoSwift]

Is the foot sensitive or still injured?

IT is sensitive, all fully healed. I did wonder if it was because her pad maybe thiner after the sand came out through the middle of her pad, but the mark has gone and the pad appears to be normal thickness, maybe slightly thinner.

What happens if you put a protective covering (eg. a boot) over the pads?

Haven't tried a boot, but if bandaged with a light bandage she acts as if her foot is broken and limps even worse.

Has she seen a chiropractor?

We don't have a chiro down here, closest one is 750kms away

I was considering acupuncture which is locally available

[luvsdogs]

There are a lot of if's in this suggestion, but have you thought of using black ointment(ichthammol) or magnaplasm, both drawing agents. I had a sore toe last year after clipping the nail from the outer edge, ingrown toenail) over a few days it got sorer & sorer & swelled up til it became unbearable. I put a lot of the black ointment on it & wrapped it up well overnight. The next morning a when I gave it a slight squeeze a piece of toenail popped out.

I don't know if it would work.

1 if it's ok to use on dogs, if she should lick it off.

2 if she would leave it on all night &

3 if the pad skin is too thick for it to work.

Just a suggestion.

Edited December 4, 2009 by luvsdogs

[OSoSwift]

There are a lot of if's in this suggestion, but have you thought of using black ointment(ichthammol) or magnaplasm, both drawing agents. I had a sore toe last year after clipping the nail from the outer edge, ingrown toenail) over a few days it got sorer & sorer & swelled up til it became unbearable. I put a lot of the black ointment on it & wrapped it up well overnight. The next morning a when I gave it a slight squeeze a piece of toenail popped out.

I don't know if it would work.

1 if it's ok to use on dogs, if she should lick it off.

2 if she would leave it on all night &

3 if the pad skin is too thick for it to work.

Just a suggestion.

Thank you

The first time it opened up she had a poultice on, the second time I wrapped Magnaplasm on it for 24 hours. It cleaned ou the serousy pussy stuff, but no more foreign bodies came out. Now as it is fully healed I don't think the magnaplasm would help - I love the stuff and use it on myself as well.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Not a bad idea to Xray, but unless it's metal you're unlikely to see it. My Uncle stood on a nail and had recurring problems due to a tiny fragment of metal still in the foot, but obviously that sort of thing shows up.

My first thought would be to put a muttluk (boot) on it for long walks for several weeks and let her walk normally on it around the house.

ETA: Was it only Clavulox you gave? If it's a small deep seated infection you may need something more broad spectrum.

Edited December 6, 2009 by Staff'n'Toller

[OSoSwift]

My first thought would be to put a muttluk (boot) on it for long walks for several weeks and let her walk normally on it around the house.

ETA: Was it only Clavulox you gave? If it's a small deep seated infection you may need something more broad spectrum.

I have been looking into boots, that is a good way of addressing it. The end of the house where we enter and leave mainly is gravel in a large "apron" it is on here thet I notice it the most. This morning She looked good, but when she went outside later she was still ouch on the foot.

She had had two courses of Clavulox (One was 14 days) and one of Cephalexin (10 days).

[Dogsfevr]

i had a dog with similar issues this year but without the lameness.It has taken 7 months to totally knock it off.

Meds & we flushed daily(twice) with Hydrogen peroxide (4% from supermarket medical section) it eats the bacteria & was the best thing out.

His toe would be very red & inflammed & sore but like you we had to weigh up the pros/cons & whilst the healing was slow we did see improvement so opted for the less invasive for as long as possible.

The final time it re festered & popped so much crap came out & that was the turning point.

The area now is completely healed & the hair has regrown

[OSoSwift]

Thanks for that showdog

I seem to have the opposite problem, no hole or noticable infection but have the lamness. Her toe looks completely healed and the hair is all normal.

She seemed good yesterday morning, but when we went outside a bit later she was ouchy. I am wondering if I am just being impatient and need to give the pad more time to get back to normal thickness and toughness?

[Jed]

Drawing agent as suggested, peroxide, as showdog suggested - peroxide is wonderful stuff. Otherwise, try a bran or bread poultice in a plastic bag held on with elastoplast

[Dogsfevr]

no hole or noticable infection but have the lamness.

We only had a hole when it festered but we still drained it daily with peroxide because it still attacks the bacteria & brings it to a head & above ensured it stayed clean as it was on the foot

[Ashanali]

no hole or noticable infection but have the lamness.

We only had a hole when it festered but we still drained it daily with peroxide because it still attacks the bacteria & brings it to a head & above ensured it stayed clean as it was on the foot

Sorry to hijack, but do you think this would work on a dog's muzzle?

Sunni has a puncture wound on the top of her nose and it hasn't healed since August. She's been on AB's had it cleaned out but it still fills with pus and scabs over each day. Would the peroxide be too much on such a sensitive area as her nose?

Now back on topic - IF they end up having to remove the toe, please ensure that the other toes are strapped for a fair amount of time until they get used to the change in structure. Sunni has only three toes on one of her feet and she ended up a mess for a while and there was talk of having to remove a second toe due to a bone infection. Luckily the extra strong AB's kicked in and she has been fine ever since but her other toe is now essentially useless and the bone inside it is dead (no point removing it now apparently). And just to give you hope, Sunni is still in the show ring and has her title. No lameness unless she spends too long running around on hard surfaces.

[poodlefan]

Sunni has a puncture wound on the top of her nose and it hasn't healed since August. She's been on AB's had it cleaned out but it still fills with pus and scabs over each day. Would the peroxide be too much on such a sensitive area as her nose?

I would highly recommend the topical application of medicinal grade Manuka honey for this wound. Howard had a very similar one earlier in the year. Along with a course of prescription ABs I applied honey twice a day to the wound. It healed really well - no scarring.

The honey will form a protective covering, preventing scabbing. It's great stuff. Howard learned to love the treatment - he got to lick the excess honey off my fingers!

[Ashanali]

Sunni has a puncture wound on the top of her nose and it hasn't healed since August. She's been on AB's had it cleaned out but it still fills with pus and scabs over each day. Would the peroxide be too much on such a sensitive area as her nose?

I would highly recommend the topical application of medicinal grade Manuka honey for this wound. Howard had a very similar one earlier in the year. Along with a course of prescription ABs I applied honey twice a day to the wound. It healed really well - no scarring.

The honey will form a protective covering, preventing scabbing. It's great stuff. Howard learned to love the treatment - he got to lick the excess honey off my fingers!

Thanks for that. Will grab some and give it a try.

[poodlefan]

Sunni has a puncture wound on the top of her nose and it hasn't healed since August. She's been on AB's had it cleaned out but it still fills with pus and scabs over each day. Would the peroxide be too much on such a sensitive area as her nose?

I would highly recommend the topical application of medicinal grade Manuka honey for this wound. Howard had a very similar one earlier in the year. Along with a course of prescription ABs I applied honey twice a day to the wound. It healed really well - no scarring.

The honey will form a protective covering, preventing scabbing. It's great stuff. Howard learned to love the treatment - he got to lick the excess honey off my fingers!

Thanks for that. Will grab some and give it a try.

The good stuff (UMF 10 or better) is expensive but its handy to have around and a jar or tube lasts a long time. The stuff I use is Medihoney which comes in a jar or tube.

Apply it liberally. It will end up looking a bit black and crusty from the dried honey but that washes off very easily with warm water.

Edited December 7, 2009 by poodlefan

[OSoSwift]

Thanks for the replies and all the other tips as well.

I am more worried about the toe being removed in regard to jumping etc for agility and obedience. If I was closer to shows then I may have a go at the Champion title.

I will do whatever I can to keep that toe on though! She seemed marginally better today which is promising.

ETA Don't worry about off topics as they give me lots of ideas for other things

Edited December 8, 2009 by Rommi n Lewis

[OSoSwift]

no hole or noticable infection but have the lamness.

We only had a hole when it festered but we still drained it daily with peroxide because it still attacks the bacteria & brings it to a head & above ensured it stayed clean as it was on the foot

If it opens up at all again I will definately give this a go

[Ashanali]

Thanks for the replies and all the other tips as well.

I am more worried about the toe being removed in regard to jumping etc for agility and obedience. If I was closer to shows then I may have a go at the Champion title.

I will do whatever I can to keep that toe on though! She seemed marginally better today which is promising.

ETA Don't worry about off topics as they give me lots of ideas for other things

Dog should be fine without the toe as long as you don't compete on hard surfaces. Sunni still runs around like a maniac and jumps like an idiot. It's only when she belts the pavement that she has issues with lameness. I would have no qualms doing obedience or agility with her (if I wanted to), I just wouldn't be going for any endurance titles.