fiveplusone Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 (edited) First time in his 6 years my GSP has split open his tail tip. Its not healing and now deep infection. He's on oral antibiotics and tail bandaged and most recent vet visit they applied skin glue to try give another level of protection. We are aware of the difficulty of healing these injuries and also the need to sometimes amputate so would really appreciate people's experiences please. How long do you keep trying to heal it? Is it better to amputate sooner rather than later etc? Thanks Edited September 10, 2015 by fiveplusone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Our Greyhound tail did not heal & the end died so we amputated about 3 inches & all was great after that ,she didn't get an infection but it simply wouldn't heal & when she did knock it it squirted like a hose ,her tip was just so fragile that the simpliest of taps meant it would bleed. Up to you i guess but i think i would go for the removal part sooner than later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denali Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I haven't had to deal with this issue personally, but have seen people who tape the tail to the dogs leg, or wrap it around their side in a stocking etc. to give it a chance to heal. Not sure how you have bandaged it, but maybe worth looking into? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pjrt Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I have not had to manage this issue personally either, but have known dogs bandaged with a hair roller of similar hard tube over the tail tip, then bandaged. I think I have seen DOLers post about this bandage method. Maybe someone can give extra detail. Personally I would probably look at taking some of the tail off so there is nice fresh tissue for healing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 We have done the hair roller,toilet roll & taping to leg tail with our Greys but we found once past a certain point it was just to damaged .In mild cases it does work . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiveplusone Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 Hmm, thanks all. Vet said infection was deep so I don't like our chances. Appointment this week so we'll see what it looks like then :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 (edited) This one is often recommended in the Dane world: http://www.feathered...com/blog/?p=292 We just pad them up really well with Manuka (clinical) honey on the wound. Edited September 8, 2015 by sas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 (edited) that tail sling is clever, but what about male dogs. Would they pee on it? Oh, she mentions once the tail is healed to cut the tape off with blunt nosed scissors, but you can just rub oil into the bandage and the glue will release. Then of course you have an oily tail to wash. Edited September 9, 2015 by Kirislin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiveplusone Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 (edited) Thanks all. He's having surgery today. It was still badly infected at our visit this morning and likely osteomyelitis so together we decided to just progress to surgery when in all likelihood we would have end up there anyway. Edited September 10, 2015 by fiveplusone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denali Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Thanks all. He's having surgery today. It was still badly infected at our visit this morning and likely osteomyelitis so together we decided to just progress to surgery when in all likelihood we would have end up there anyway. I think you made the best call, given the infection is showing no improvement. Hope it all goes well :) Now he will look American! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiveplusone Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Thanks all. He's having surgery today. It was still badly infected at our visit this morning and likely osteomyelitis so together we decided to just progress to surgery when in all likelihood we would have end up there anyway. I think you made the best call, given the infection is showing no improvement. Hope it all goes well :) Now he will look American! It really was disgusting poor boy,not that it seemed to bother him at all. He's home now. Doped up to the eyeballs, but has pain meds and antibiotics and a very well padded stump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky-Dog Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 How is the your second best friend now ? Best wishes and loves xoxoxo to your boy :) :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiveplusone Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 He's doing great. None the wiser for missing some of his tail :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now