Injury not healing properly

[Unicorn]

Poor Poppy has some injuries on her hock that aren’t healing as I’d like. They were there when she came to me and I assumed they were rubs from being in kennels, almost like a capped hock, and would soon fix once she was in a home.

Vet initially suggested cleaning twice daily with hibiscrub, which didn’t seem to help. We then had a week of Isaderm twice a day, which has helped slightly but not as much as I’d hoped. She’s now also developed two more patches – one on her hip and one on the underside of her tail – both in the exact spot that’s in contact with her hock when she’s sitting or lying down.

Spoken to vet again and they’re a little baffled. We’re now trying steroids and antibiotics for a couple of weeks. If that doesn’t help it’s time for a biopsy. Not covered by insurance as deemed pre-existing.

Has anyone seen anything like this before/got any ideas what else I could do to try and help? They don’t seem to particularly bother her, but they’re a worry. She’s due to be spayed in September and obviously we can’t really do that until we know what this is.

 

[Landcruiser]

How long has this gone on? Is Alabama Rot a possibility?

 

[Unicorn]

How long has this gone on? Is Alabama Rot a possibility?

Over a month now, so I'd assumed we were safe on that front.

 

[SusieT]

I would get another opinion to be honest as steroids and hibiscrub would be an unusual thing to use on open ulcers in a dog. I'd want someone really good doing a biopsy over such open areas.
Can you have her on padded beds and with no access to hard floors until they heal?

 

[Unicorn]

I would get another opinion to be honest as steroids and hibiscrub would be an unusual thing to use on open ulcers in a dog. I'd want someone really good doing a biopsy over such open areas.
Can you have her on padded beds and with no access to hard floors until they heal?

I was wondering about another opinion. Do I just try another vet or should I ask for a referral?
No hard floors, thankfully. She has about a million padded beds, but currently finds them too hot, so shoves them out of the way in favour of the carpet

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't have thought hibiscrub as a good option either it's really harsh I don't even use it on horses and Arabi is allergic anyway.

Hopefully now you have antibiotics it will clear up the hibiscrub may have put it back a bit.

You could try some cool mats in beds I put one in Mavis's bed and she will happily lay in it then.

B & M do them for £6.

 

[skinnydipper]

I am not a vet.

I think it looks like pyoderma. If the antibiotics that have been prescribed show some improvement it may be that she will need a long course - longer than 2 weeks. If 2 weeks antibiotics don't show any improvement I would ask if culture and sensitivity could be done.

 

[Unicorn]

I wouldn't have thought hibiscrub as a good option either it's really harsh I don't even use it on horses and Arabi is allergic anyway.

Hopefully now you have antibiotics it will clear up the hibiscrub may have put it back a bit.

You could try some cool mats in beds I put one in Mavis's bed and she will happily lay in it then.

B & M do them for £6.

Thank you! I'll be raiding B&M this weekend for them - I think she'd really like them, she seems to struggle with the heat.

Either that or they'll turn out to be the devil's work and she'll not go near them!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thank you! I'll be raiding B&M this weekend for them - I think she'd really like them, she seems to struggle with the heat.

Either that or they'll turn out to be the devil's work and she'll not go near them!

Mave loves hers I just kept getting her to lie on it with a chew to start with, I now put it on the sofa out in the garden and she goes straight on it.

They do 2 different ones the blue rectangle one is quite padded not sure about the water melon one I don't have that one.

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Greyhound by any chance? It’s very common for the poor souls.

I’d abandon everything except saline solution to bathe regularly, I’d agree Hibiscrub is too harsh (that’s not a criticism in any way, I used to use it often for horses so it took me a while to learn it doesn’t necessarily translate for dogs)

I’d also not be rushing for the steroids/antibiotics but if your vet has prescribed them I can see you’d want to use them.

I have to say that the best results I’ve had with greyhounds have been the gentler longer term treatments like Manuka honey etc. i understand one size does not fit all, but these are common issues they experience

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Was gonna suggest manuka honey I use it on the horses alot and I also use hydrocortisone on them as well which seems to be good.

I'm not really familiar on what to use on dogs never had the need thankfully.

 

[SusieT]

I'd make it so she can't lie on anything but padded beds e.g. pen her in as that might help? I'd get a second opinion maybe from a dermatology vet or even just a simple second opinion

 

[Unicorn]

Greyhound by any chance? It’s very common for the poor souls.

I’d abandon everything except saline solution to bathe regularly, I’d agree Hibiscrub is too harsh (that’s not a criticism in any way, I used to use it often for horses so it took me a while to learn it doesn’t necessarily translate for dogs)

I’d also not be rushing for the steroids/antibiotics but if your vet has prescribed them I can see you’d want to use them.

I have to say that the best results I’ve had with greyhounds have been the gentler longer term treatments like Manuka honey etc. i understand one size does not fit all, but these are common issues they experience

Nope, she's a GSD. Had a bit of a rough start and has only been with me a couple of months.

Was gonna suggest manuka honey I use it on the horses alot and I also use hydrocortisone on them as well which seems to be good.

I'm not really familiar on what to use on dogs never had the need thankfully.

No, nor have I with dogs. I'm on quite a learning curve here!

I'd wondered about manuka honey too. Do you just use it from a jar, or as one of the ointments/creams?

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Oh bless her! Sorry I had greyhounds for years so was familiar with this situation, I suppose not an awful lot changes with the breed type however.

I always used Manuka honey from a jar (as bought in a supermarket if I’m honest!)

 

[Unicorn]

Oh bless her! Sorry I had greyhounds for years so was familiar with this situation, I suppose not an awful lot changes with the breed type however.

I always used Manuka honey from a jar (as bought in a supermarket if I’m honest!)

Thank you...I think it might be time to try the honey

 

[Unicorn]

Pic of said majestic german shepherd, just because she's lovely!

 

[AmyMay]

Is she generally well within herself?

 

[Unicorn]

Is she generally well within herself?

Yes, she seems to be.
It's tricky, she's not been with me long and was skinny with a very dull coat when she first came to me. And then she promptly came into season, poor thing.
She's put on weight, has a shiny coat and a bright eye, there's nothing obviously wrong.

 

[Aru]

The skin wants to heal. Its usually very good at knitting and closing minor wound's. When you have a non healing wound need to rule out the causes that are causing a delay to the normal knitting and healing process..

Trauma. Infection. Inflammation being the bigs ones. Foreign bodies(grass seeds etc), autoimmune and neoplasia also a potential but less common then the first 3.

Repeated ongoing trauma from hard ground can cause some issues, but those areas will usually callus and heal... which makes a month long wound unusual. Something else is usually going on.

Using a pen and soft bedding would remove trauma from hard ground as a risk factor.
A wound that is licked and or chewed at will have delayed healing as that trauma stops the wound from knitting effectively
Elizabethan Collar will prevent that.

Steroids will reduce the inflammation take away discomfort and they often help the dog not want to itch or scratch the area. They also treat the weird and wonderful unusual things like autoimmune skin issues.

Antibiotics would help rule out infection that could be causing a failure of normal healing. It's a massive rule out as even a low grade infection can massively delay healing.

But if none of that is working biopsy or fna to rule out cancer and weird and wonderful non standard infections isn't a bad call. Cancers don't heal well. They linger. Some spread. Though not always in the same pressure areas.. that would be more of an infection or trauma pattern.

I wouldnt biopsy without a strict bedding, prevent any ongoing self trauma and an antibiotic trial first. But it's definately one to consider if there's still issues and no improvement on standard medications.

Manuka honey will help with a low level infection if you can get it to stay in a wound on that area and not cause other issues.... but if it encourages the dog to lick the area or makes the skin around a wound moist and sticky it can be a problem sometimes. The hock can be a tricky place for bandaging etc

 

[Unicorn]

Thank you @Aru that's a very detailed and very helpful reply and helps a few things fall into place. Fingers crossed the antibiotics and steroids do the trick.

And having said yesterday she didn't seem to be keen on the beds, this was how I found her this morning. Definitely wasn't how the beds were arranged last night!

 

[skinnydipper]

I was wondering how Poppy was getting on, @Unicorn. Have the sores on her legs now healed?

 

[Unicorn]

Thank you @skinnydipper

She's doing really well now - the sores on her legs are pretty much gone...these were taken a couple of days ago




The steroids clearly helped the itching, but also sent her anxiety through the roof and undid a lot of the improvement we made on her dog reactivity, but I'm sure we can make progress again soon!


I've also found out a bit more of her history....turns out it wasn't her first time in rescue

She was rehomed three years ago - described as working lines, failed security dog and loves a good bark. Her ear was intact and she was rehomed unspayed. So it looks as though all the puppies have been since then. Poor girl.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thank goodness she found you!

 

[skinnydipper]

Thank you for the update. Good news about her skin.

Hopefully she will get over this setback and her reactivity will continue to improve.

She is a lucky dog to have found a home with you.

 

[Moobli]

What a lovely girl. I’m so glad you’re giving her another chance at being loved and having a happy life

 

[Unicorn]

Thank goodness she found you!

Thank you for the update. Good news about her skin.

Hopefully she will get over this setback and her reactivity will continue to improve.

She is a lucky dog to have found a home with you.

What a lovely girl. I’m so glad you’re giving her another chance at being loved and having a happy life

Thank you

She's safe and very much loved now. And maybe just a tiny bit spoilt! It's so lovely seeing her character come out - she's turning out to be really quite sassy.

And just because she's gorgeous

 

[Moobli]

She’s beautiful

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

She is gorgeous!

One of the best dogs I ever had was a brown Lab with half an ear. She was given to me as a pup when I bought her sister, because her mum had apparently bitten the flap off. The free pup developed epilepsy aged about 18 maths, so I've wondered if mum was epileptic and bit the ear as part of a seizure. Your poor girl obviously suffered some trauma as an adult though.

 

[Unicorn]

Aaaand we're back in the cone

She was doing so well, they'd pretty much gone. Then over the last 48 hours she's given them a real munching and now they look almost as bad as when we started.

Have emailed more pictures to my poor vet, to see if she thinks we need more antibiotics.

On the positive side, she's making awesome progress with her reactivity and anxiety - we've managed some lovely walks over the past week! I'm sure there will be bumps along the way, but it's such a good feeling!

 

[skinnydipper]

She was doing so well, they'd pretty much gone. Then over the last 48 hours she's given them a real munching and now they look almost as bad as when we started.

There are hind leg lick sleeves on Amazon if they would be any good.