a bit of advice please...

TayloredEq

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 December 2007
Messages
1,105
Location
Shropshire
www.tayloredequestrian.com
Hi all,

I've been out of aad forum for a while as been busy busy busy but thought I'd just pop back and ask a bit of advice!!

Bear managed to pull his claw out of his foot on Tuesday night. It bled quite a lot so I bandaged and vet wrapped it. Put a fresh one on yesterday morning - no new bleeding. Took it off last night whilst he was in to allow some air to get to it and then redressed it before he went out this morning.

Sadly he managed to get this mornings dressing off and has then proceeded to run round the field and through the dirty stables etc whilst I've been mucking out.

The vets can only fit me in at 5.50pm tonight but I have a new client coming in to my yard for the spa and so really don't want to have to cancel her.

Now that the bandage is off he is licking at it a bit. And whilst he is happy to run around he is also being quite mardy and keeps coming up for more cuddles. He also didn't play quite as actively as he normally would with his sister when she came over last night.

So my plan is to go and spa him (cold, salt water) to cleanse the wound and then dry the foot off and redress it. But I'm paranoid that he should go and get a jab or something. There's no obvious heat or swelling in it but it is sore to the touch (but I think I would be sore too!!)

So opinions please - do I cancel the new client and take him to the vet or hand on and just keep monitoring him?
 
To be honest I'd leave it. Some of the working JRT's we have are always pulling claws and they heal very easily. You've kept it clean for 2 days so it should be healed enough now to be okay. I would keep an eye on it and if it looks like it's infected or swelling then take him to the vet. ;)
 
Bella ripped her claw and I just dunked her paw in Dettol three times a day (using a Chinese takeaway tray). No vet trip but we did have a Spanish vet staying and that was her advice.

You could duct-tape a sock over it?
 
Taylored, my Lab has done this and quite honestly there is very little you can do apart from keep it clean. I salt watered it as often as possible and it healed pretty quickly. I did try taping a sock over it but she wasn't having it and just kept ripping it off. There was no question of her "resting" until it was okay so I just kept walks to soft ground and washed it thoroughly when I got back.
 
Ditto all the above, just keep it clean and he should be fine. Obviously monitor for any heat or nasty discharge. The spa should be ideal for washing it, lucky you with home facilities.
 
Top