Cut Paw

Hey guys. Ellie was out in the yard playing today with another pup and I noticednher foot was bleeding. Took a closer look and found her one toe is split right down the middle. It didn't seem to bother her too bad as she didn't want to stop playing. I put her foot in soapy water, dried it off, put on polisporin and a boot so she can't lick it. Is this a trip to the vet today or tomorrow for stitches? Thanks. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9425e4a597.jpg
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I'm not a vet but I'd be seeing a vet for that in the morning. Stitches look likely. Soak in epsom salts/water bath of and on until then. (You haven't done any real harm but polysporin is not for dogs.)

Polysporin...i use that *hit on everything. Ooops that Franks's Hot Sauce. Polysporin,peroxide they are all good and have both products in my doggy first-aid kit for years for cut paws and lacerations on the trail. I even used peroxide on a huge inside of the mouth laceration on one of my buddies dog after a dog fight, cleaned up real nice. I would even attempt to use the first aid glue on such a cut to the paw after it has been cleaned. More than likely your dog may try to pull stitches out.

Are you a vet? My VET says never use polysporin.

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Originally Posted by Sharon

Are you a vet? My VET says never use polysporin.

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My Vet is a Vet and he says anything that prevents infection will do along with cleaning the wound out thoroughly. My niece is a vet and recommends the same advice .Boy it's a wonder any of them survived. :)

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Originally Posted by Sharon

Are you a vet? My VET says never use polysporin.

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Maybe your vet wants you to by his/her product. ;)

Just went through this with my dog. Had him stand in a basin of water with Epsom salt to clean it. No stitches. Just healed on its own. Put on a rubber "Paws" bootie during walks. It took a couple weeks to close up but he is fine. This was done on the direction of my vet.

Went through the same 2 years ago ,cut on the paw from barbed wire. Clean thoroughly with warm water, scrubbed with Hibitane then a small amount of polysporin. Many years ago my vet recommended this procedure rather than bringing them in to the vet every time my working dogs cut their paw. Since my dogs would typically cut a paw in the winter from sharp ice running the trails this was the recommended procedure with at least a week off sometimes longer. I had no heated room to keep them out of the elements since they were sled dogs and for the most part had tough feet but on occasion they would get cut.

3 weeks prior to the National Championship my boy slashed a pad badly at a field trial. He finished the trial with the help of some crazy glue. MY Vet who also campaigns retrievers cleaned up the cut a few days later and wrapped it very well. After 2 weeks we took the stretch bandages off and cut the 'flap'of loose pad off.

It had healed significantly from the inside which is what you want. He wanted it as dry as possible and did not want polysporin etc on it nor was he prepared to stitch it. In another week the pad had virtually tightened up.

Guess our Vets attended different schools.

Try wrapping a working Siberian cut pad. They would have you wrapped up first. lol

I'm sure someone with your experience could find a way to do that. How would you handle that dog if it was a wound that required staples in the field.
It happens.

Pad cuts pretty much need to heal from the inside out, granulating in and contracting. Pad leather doesn't hold stitches well. Even if stitched, with weight bearing the stitches pull out and let go and you're back to where you started but with a $500 Vet bill.

Thank goodness - a real vet! Thank you. - This place must drive you crazy. :)

(That means I have been wrong twice this week. I'd better move on. :) )

All vets are not created equal. Same goes for doctors and mechanics. Some were the best in their class, others not so much.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by krakadawn

I'm sure someone with your experience could find a way to do that. How would you handle that dog if it was a wound that required staples in the field.
It happens.

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I have had major cuts on the trail and even in a sprint race situation where the dog has to be put in the dog bag on the sled and restrained. Happens more often than you think and you have to react and think on the fly. I have gotten to know a few vets that have volunteered for the Iditarod , Yukon Quest, Can-Am etc. over the years and all have been fascinated by the dog care and knowledge mushers have with regards to foot/pad care. Yes the goal is to get the pad clean to eliminate any possible infection and covered with a bandage and dog booty if possible. Most sled dogs get bored very easy and see a bandage as something to eat so the best possible remedy is to clean and apply a product such as polysporin or similar effective product on the market. Every day the wound is cleaned at least once ,patted dry , polysporin applied if it can be bandaged then of course. Rest and trying to keep the dog from moving is always recommended but that's easier said than done depending on the breed. I have attempted to bandage a cut pad after it has been cleaned but unfortunately the dog would remove the bandage. After talking to my old vet she basically said try to keep it clean and apply polysporin. Almost every musher I know follow a similar regime and to say that is not the correct way well the proof is in the animals that run thousands of miles each winter. You have your method we have ours and both ways work.

I can imagine the challenge of looking after injuries out on a trail. I know a number of people who carry a staple kit to be used in the event of a serious injury as well.

I'll bet you didn't carry a snake bite kit like some of us training in the south do!

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Originally Posted by krakadawn

I can imagine the challenge of looking after injuries out on a trail. I know a number of people who carry a staple kit to be used in the event of a serious injury as well.

I'll bet you didn't carry a snake bite kit like some of us training in the south do!

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Wow a snake bite kit ! I can't imagine worrying about that.

To the OP, take him to the vet if it will give you piece of mind. But in my experiences with my dog which has cut its paws a few times, it will heal on its own. just keep it as clean as you can. The only thing you have to watch out for is infection, if you notice discharge or bad smell coming from the wound then a trip to the vet for antibiotics is in order.

As mentioned, stitches do not generally hold well on pads (been there / done that - suggested solution to a zebra mussel cut years ago). Keep it clean and try to keep in covered (vet wrap / dog boot) while outside to keep it dry. Biggest issue will probably be your patience in allowing it to heal from the inside out! :-)

Thanks guys have clean it a few different times with Epson salts and had had her bootie on all night. Vets this afternoon.

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I'd be taking the advice of a Vet that owns a pointing dog

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Originally Posted by Ontdon

I'd be taking the advice of a Vet that owns a pointing dog

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????

No .... I'd be taking the advice of a vet that knows WORKING dogs regardless of breed.

Boy, how do you get a dog to just lay there and not try to ripe it off. I have never had any luck on getting my boy to just lay there.

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Originally Posted by Dakota Creek

????

No .... I'd be taking the advice of a vet that knows WORKING dogs regardless of breed.

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Well said.

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

Boy, how do you get a dog to just lay there and not try to ripe it off. I have never had any luck on getting my boy to just lay there.

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I use an Elizabethean collar. Dogs hate it but......... Air has to get at the cut which is why a booties is not a good idea.

What did the vet say Eddy?

What a minute Sharon , applying pressure using a bandage material and putting it in a booty to stop the bleeding after it has been cleaned works very well . Mind you this would be for short term to stop the bleeding. Then yes the bandage/booty should be removed to get air.

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Originally Posted by yellow dog

Then yes the booty should be removed to get air.

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With the exception of letting the dog out to air should we get the weather being called for over the next few days. As well, if using vet wrap vs first aid tape to keep any gauze in place, air can get through unless MULTIPLE layers of vet wrap are used.

Vet didn't say a whole lot my wife took her in. Basically gave a 5 day antibiotic and badaged it up. Said to clean with Epson and bandage every 24h. She's been leaving the bandage alone so far and just seems to be sleeping.

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Good to hear. Now let's agree to let this damn thread die...

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Originally Posted by Ontdon

I'd be taking the advice of a Vet that owns a pointing dog

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And...I knew what you meant Don....LOL