Advice On Open Wound Please

[Tazar]

Hi,

I have a Stag hound x Staf in my care atm and whilst she was playing chase with my dogs, she either copped a minor bite or scratched herself on the hedge as they run in, out and through it.

It was quarter the size of a 5 cent piece 3 days ago and drying up when I noticed it (would not have been more than 24 hours old). She is licking at it on and off and it is now the size of a 10 cent piece, raw and open. I have been putting betadine on it (undiluted) and giving her cephalexin tablets twice a day. (I had these left over from a dog I treated recently who had an infection due to an ingrown dew claw.)

Should I take her to the vet? My feeling is that they will do nothing different except maybe put a bucket on her head to stop her licking it.

Any thoughts/advice?

many thanks in advance :)

It has broken through the skin, there is no depth to it.

Edited June 28, 2012 by Tazar

[Dame Aussie]

Yes I'd take her to the vet if it's gotten that much bigger.

[Guest donatella]

It's probably bigger because she's been licking it bigger. Can you put a dressing on it and a sock to stop her licking it and reassess in 24 hours?

So long as its it's not pussy, exposing tendon or bone with any depth it should heal if she leaves it alone.

Edited June 28, 2012 by donatella

[Tazar]

It is on her side and not pussy, very clean. I will dress it and see how it is tomorrow. thank you :)

[Alyosha]

The tricky bit will be getting her to leave it alone. If it is only a skin tear it should be fine. One of mine recently tore a hole in himself (just skin) and we really struggled to keep him from it. But the bucket thing did work eventually!

A good dressing is plain vitamin E cream (sorbolene) mixed up with a blob of Savlon and just wiped over the wound. Leave it uncovered if you can, a bucket collar is better than wrapping it up.

[Nekhbet]

cetrigen spray, then just scrape off the scabby bits with a tooth brush as it dries.

Cetrigen, superglue and betadine, you can rule the world with that lol

[persephone]

Cetrigen, superglue and betadine, you can rule the world with that lol

:)

[dancinbcs]

Icthhammol Ointment from the chemist will heal it from the inside out and clear any infection. Just apply it several times a day. Heals punctures and infected wounds on dogs, cats, horses or humans. I don't know how anyone lives without it.

[Tazar]

I covered it lightly with gauze and tape and she left it alone overlight :) Put her out this morning and my Shep prompty took it off...

Redressed it and kept her in all day but on a toilet break my Shep again took it off. It has not gotten any bigger and is not infected. Have purchased some cetrigen so will see how she is in the morning.

Thanks for your help DOLers :)

[pirate]

I have used the gel garlic oil capsules on wounds and abscesses with great results. Pierce the capsule with a needle and squirt into hole normally within three or four days the wound has started to heal.