Jean in Newcastle Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Usual backstory: Libby (6 year old female English Springer Spaniel) was hit by a car 2 months ago. She has a spinal cord injury and one leg which was paralyzed. She is starting to make progress with doggie acupuncture and chiropractic and is moving her "paralyzed" leg (which obviously doesn't qualify as paralyzed anymore). Problem: One week ago, she developed a round sore on the top of her bad paw. I put Neosporin on it and bandaged it so that she couldn't get at it. It seemed to heal (though the divot was still there). Today the sore is bleeding again. Dh (a human RN) thinks I should just slap some Neosporin on it again and call it good. I called the vet to have it looked at because I'm afraid that just when she is making some progress and that we can stop thinking about the specter of amputation, infection might set into that leg. Am I being too overprotective? Paranoid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Does it matter if you are? This is something you love. You are the mommy and anything you do out of love is "instinct" and should NEVER be dismissed. :D Lara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 When I was recovering from a bad break in my foot, my family doctor didn't want ANYTHING going wrong on the foot. A mildly ingrown nail, that was resolving on its own, and she still sent me to specialists. I'd have it looked at. So what if it is overprotective? I wouldn't want to sabotage the leg. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) I'm w/ you. I would want an oral antibiotic for her if possible. Men. Humph! ETA: I wonder if it could be a staph infection from the acupuncture maybe? Edited November 8, 2011 by Unicorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I'd probably trust the Human RN. I am glad to hear Libby is improving :grouphug:! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 No, you are not being overprotective. I think you should take Libby to the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingnlearning Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Neosporin can't cure an infection that is already there and it can only do a marginal job of preventing infection. A better preventative wound pack is sugardine, iodine and sugar mixed into a paste then applied and wrapped over the sore. Do you know what caused the sore? I would be pretty hesitant to take any chances with an oddball sore on her one good back leg right now. You've put so much into her recovery already-it's worth the visit to ensure all is going well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Neosporin can't cure an infection that is already there and it can only do a marginal job of preventing infection. A better preventative wound pack is sugardine, iodine and sugar mixed into a paste then applied and wrapped over the sore. Do you know what caused the sore? I would be pretty hesitant to take any chances with an oddball sore on her one good back leg right now. You've put so much into her recovery already-it's worth the visit to ensure all is going well. The oddball sore is on her bad front leg;) What is sugardine and where would one get such a substance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Does it matter if you are?This is something you love. You are the mommy and anything you do out of love is "instinct" and should NEVER be dismissed. :D Lara What matters is the cost. We have the money for the very important or even the pretty important. We don't have the money for the unimportant. So it's a matter of what priority I give this in terms of Libby's health. No one wants to sabotage her health, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingnlearning Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) Ah-I hear you on the cost! You make sugardine: iodine and sugar, mixed together to a paste. Since her wound is raw I would thin the iodine with sterile water to a medium/light tea color then mix with the sugar then wrap it up. http://www.holistichorse.com/Herbs/sugardine.html You can also wash or rinse the wound with saline and wrap it with a dry wrap. My favorite inexpensive bandaging material is panty liners and duct tape or vet wrap. The sugardine will inhibit infection but it can slow healing; saline is a great wound wash for the already disinfected wound that has been kept clean. You make the call, maybe keep it wrapped for a few days then start letting it dry more and more. If there is an abscess you can soak her foot in epsom salts to draw it out also-since the wound returned that could be a possibility? Or maybe she just tweaked it twice? Works really well on thrush for horses which is why you'll see so many horse references on a google search. I'd try to leave her foot dry and open as much as you can also, it will heal faster dry and clean but to keep the infection risk down to nil I would wrap it when you're not there watching her. If you want systemic abx you can buy penicillin and give her shots-costs about $8 but you have to be ok with giving a dog a shot. My dogs have never minded it, they don't even feel the needle. It's a much bigger hassle but enormously cheaper. I can PM you the dosage if you ever decide to go that route. Edited November 8, 2011 by livingnlearning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 What matters is the cost. We have the money for the very important or even the pretty important. We don't have the money for the unimportant. So it's a matter of what priority I give this in terms of Libby's health. No one wants to sabotage her health, though! I was a little too flippant, I apologise. I guess I was just trying to ease some of your guilt. I would also be in the same position. What I was trying to say, is you can only do what you can do, and you will make the best decision you can for ALL members of your family. There is nothing more any of us can do. (since we cannot see into the future). I have taken a child I thought had apendix problems to the ER only to find out I'd spent 700.00 on an enema. I have another I thought I could fix myself and save lots of money on dr's, only to have a year long injury not really healing well. Try not to second guess every move. If it is guided with love and as much knowledge as you can, you are making the right move. If it were me, I'd try to home medicate, but I would worry myself into sleepless nights. I could take the dog to the vet and spend other sleepless nights worrying about money. Catch 22. My advice: self medicate and keep a close eye on the injury and the dog for serious infection. Lara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 I was a little too flippant, I apologise. I guess I was just trying to ease some of your guilt. I would also be in the same position. What I was trying to say, is you can only do what you can do, and you will make the best decision you can for ALL members of your family. There is nothing more any of us can do. (since we cannot see into the future). I have taken a child I thought had apendix problems to the ER only to find out I'd spent 700.00 on an enema. I have another I thought I could fix myself and save lots of money on dr's, only to have a year long injury not really healing well. Try not to second guess every move. If it is guided with love and as much knowledge as you can, you are making the right move. If it were me, I'd try to home medicate, but I would worry myself into sleepless nights. I could take the dog to the vet and spend other sleepless nights worrying about money. Catch 22. My advice: self medicate and keep a close eye on the injury and the dog for serious infection. Lara I appreciate the advice on my mental health as well as the dog's health!;) (I wasn't bothered by your previous post, btw, but was just clarifying my position.) Well - I'm going to keep the vet appointment. What bothers me is not so much that she has a sore but that it is on her bad leg and that it appeared suddenly without any cause that I know about. If she's given a clean bill of health from anything serious I'll probably do a combination of self medication and whatever the vet recommends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Update: I took her in. I felt better about it when I realized that she was due for her rabies and distemper shots so I could do that at the same time. They shaved her paw and disinfected it. She told me to put Neosporin on it:tongue_smilie: But I didn't waste money because I got those shots! (At least that's what I'll emphasize to dh;)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I'm glad for you! The best of both worlds. Lara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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