Stiff Knees

Stiff Knees

Stiff Knees

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Not great sadly. The wound is just not healing as we’d like. Peril has had her sixth vet visit ?. The first was with the then unexplained enlarged popliteal lymph node, investigations at that stage failed to find the cause and she came home having had a needle biopsy. The results came back negative for lymphoma and positive for an activated lymph node, but we were unable to find the trigger. She was then intermittently uncomfortable in that same leg and we took her back for further investigation. This time, under sedation, the vet found that the innermost claw on that same leg was badly damaged at the point where it meets the bone. The report stated that the claw was found to be lifted off the bone, it was trimmed back, a large amount of pus drained, cleaned and bandaged. She was discharged with 7 days of antibiotics and Metacam. She had a dressing change after 2 days, and a dressing change after a further 3 days. More antibiotics were prescribed. At her check up 3 days after that her dressing was removed and it was decided to leave the wound open to dry out. Bathing with salt water was advised. She was checked 3 days after and we were advised to continue with salt water bathing and antibiotics. After a further vet check we were advised to begin bathing with diluted hibiscrub, leave the wound open to the air and given more antibiotics. The wound is still a bit oozy when gentle pressure is applied to that digit. This morning I’ll be calling the vets again because I don’t like the look of it. It is still oozing a clear liquid, looks raw and inflamed and has developed a black patch high up next to the skin. I’ve attached a pic. Peril has been amazing, she is on very restricted on lead exercise and regular bathing, that must be uncomfortable, but has never complained. She has never so much as looked at the wound. She has taken to the couch potato lifestyle like a duck to water, which is perhaps an indication that she is feeling under the weather, although she’s eating well, and is full of beans. She is tolerating the antibiotics very well. We had a very similar experience with Jake and he was treated very differently with quite intense sponging of the wound with dilute hibiscrub 4 times daily, drying then applying sudocrem and a sock. The vet told us, using much simplified language, that the aim was to remove the white crystals that formed and return the wound to red, we were told to sponge until it just began to bleed, which we did ? and it dried out beautifully, and healed much more quickly than this wound. So far, we have followed advice to the letter, but I’m half tempted to give this approach a go, so I’m a bit torn. I’ll quietly voice my concerns when I speak to the vet again today and see what her reaction is. Poor Peril ??. Cuppa tea and a ginger nut to anyone who has got this far ? x B97DBAB2-BE9F-42C4-BEF7-94B1756E58FF.jpeg
 
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Stiff Knees

Stiff Knees

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2019
Messages
1,287
Visit site
Seven days of hibiscrub have done the trick and the wound is now dry and healing beautifully. No more antibiotics required. All credit goes to Peril who has been a perfect patient ??. We’re hoping to start gentle off lead exercise on Monday. She really is the easiest dog to have around. She went from at least eight miles per day off lead exercise to zero and has never once been destructive, bolshy or silly. She just accepted her fate and has remained her usual cheerful self. She is a tonic for the soul. ?
 
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