It’s been a while since I’ve been on this forum, but I really need to pick your brains.
Mila, my German Shepherd who's nearly 3, cut her front right paw open last week. The result: 7 stitches and a big bandage.
Since I was fairly sure she’d try to mess with the dressing, I immediately bought a fabric cone (the vet forgot to give us one) to make it a bit more comfortable for her.
The problem is that despite the cone, she still manages to scratch at it and tear bits of the bandage off, especially just after it's been changed. I can't watch her 24/7 and the only "solution" I’ve found (which I’m not really happy with) is putting a basket muzzle on her for part of the afternoon.
Does anyone have any ideas to stop her from damaging the dressing? I’ve thought about maybe getting a standard plastic Elizabethan collar, but it would be really uncomfortable for her.
Translated from French
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Hi Jupi,
I think she'll be fine with a bigger cone. Since your vet "forgot" to send Mila home with the right kit and the one you bought doesn't seem to be the right size, the easiest thing would definitely be to head back to the vet so they can give you the proper gear.
Is Mila doing okay otherwise? Love,
Yeah, checking the eyes and the nose is always the first thing I do as well... As for the window, yes, we were terrified for her paws from that height... she’d taken the whole lot with her, the panes and the window frame...
I’m the same, it makes me so angry when I see broken bottles left by little idiots.
It’s becoming so stressful at rivers or lakes... not to mention the needles...
Yes, definitely carnivores... ^^ Oxane is a real foodie but she has her favourites, which are definitely meaty bones, fish, meat... and dairy (the holy grail!). As for offal and fruit, I can finally say we’re making progress... she was starting to get a bit too picky and sorting through her food... even though when she was 3 months old she’d eat almost anything...
I prep her veg in advance for 4 days or a week... and sometimes it’s grated rather than blended...
Yeah, I know it’s not ideal, but she digests it just fine...
Blimey, from the first floor? That must have been terrifying! She was so lucky!!
Yes, glass can cause so much damage so quickly. My first instinct was to check her eyes; it could have been tragic!
It’s unbelievable that people just leave glass lying around on the pavement... It’s the sort of thing that makes my blood boil; accidents happen so fast, whether it’s with pets or children...
Oh tell me about it, Mila is a total hoover! Fruit, veg, meat, offal, fish... she’ll wolf down anything! Mind you, I don't give her veg every day, it's more of an occasional thing as I can't be bothered with all the peeling, washing and blending ^^'
They’re carnivores first and foremost though, and you can definitely tell that if she had to choose between broccoli and a rib of beef, there’s no contest 😁 They say Labradors never turn their nose up at food, but you’ve clearly got the exception that proves the rule!
Gosh, you must have been so worried!! Mila was really lucky!!
Our Yugoslavian Shepherd once jumped through a first-floor window trying to get to my parents in the garden... it was a miracle, she wasn't hurt at all...
Glass is honestly the worst (cut paw pads from broken lightbulbs on the pavement).
Is Mila a good little raw feeder? Oxane tends to turn her nose up at her veg; she’d much rather just have the meaty bones, meat and fish in her bowl...
So, here’s a little story: I’ve got a door with a glass pane that separates the hall from the lounge at home. The front door was open that day and she saw the neighbour’s dog through the glass. As a result, she launched herself at the glass with all her might, it gave way, and it sliced open the top of her paw. Luckily for her, it was just a cut and didn't damage any muscles, tendons, or arteries—it could have been so much worse!
Gosh, I wouldn’t be able to swallow that myself! I totally get Oxane lol, anything to get rid of that taste!
And yeah, it’s clear you can see the difference between a dog on supermarket dry food and a well-fed dog ;)
So, what was Mila doing when she ended up with that?
Yeah, the smell is quite something. I can take it neat, but I definitely prefer it with a teaspoon of honey...
When Oxane had her allergy, she licked it once, but the look on her face before she dashed outside to rub herself on the grass made it very clear that was the first and last time! ^^
A good diet really does make a difference when it comes to healing!
Yeah, I think those soft collars are better for wounds on the back legs and belly, but it’s trickier for the front :/
I can’t stand those really stiff "lampshade" cones either! It’s just as stressful for the dog, bumping into everything, as it is for the humans hearing constant banging and crashing! This fabric one might be a tad less effective, but it still does the job; it’s just a bit too short (another 4 inches and it would’ve been perfect). At least it doesn't stop her from sleeping or resting her head.
The stitches are looking fine for now (phew!) and the wound is healing well too (thanks to the raw diet! :D). I’d rather stay on high alert before she starts doing any damage though, because having to go back for more anaesthetic and stitches... well, no thank you!
I think the smell of tea tree is foul enough as it is, so I can’t imagine what it’s like for dogs with their incredible sense of smell! It definitely doesn't make you want to lick it 😝
Hiya,
Yes, peppermint... that could work! Definitely worth a look ;-)
And about the collar, yeah, I agree. I was looking into those when I was getting my puppy spayed...
I totally get it regarding the 'lampshade' cones, I'm not a fan of them at all... and the thought of her ruining her stitches is terrifying...
