Vets and Nurses, doggy help please

[Llwyncwn]

Hi Guys

My GSD had an op last Wednesday to remove a haematoma from her ear. The vet cut out a diamond shape and stitched it together.

They did tell me that it would weep and that I could clean the ear with salt water. We did this last night, but this morning her ear smells like rotting meat. She is on antibio's (Amoxycillyn 500) and anti-inflams/pain killers (Carprodyl).

Is this smell of infection something to worry about or is it perfectly normal?

Here are some pics from Wednesday ...

Any help or observations would be so appreciated.

 

[merlinsquest]

Ewwww thats gross..... not sure it should smell of rotting meat though.... was it infected before or just a heamatoma??

Can you ring the vets and ask them? They are really the only ones that know if it is normal

 

[ann-jen]

Is she due to go back for a check up in the next few days? Its really common to get infection in the wound following a haematoma repair and it definitely shouldn't smell the way you describe. It sounds like she might need a more broad-spectrum antibiotic as amoxycillin doesn't cover all the sorts of bugs. In the meantime if you are not too sqeamish I would bathe the wound in mild salty water and try to remove most of the gunge that builds up. Keeping it clean is half the battle. Good Luck.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Thanks ann-jen & Merlinsq.

We went to the vet today who told us that the ear was discharging both inside and outside of the ear. Outside was running down her glands which had caused, what the vet said was a type of ecsema, probably a reaction, so he shaved the area.

He said that the worst problem was any ear mites left after her treatment and gave me a spot on Advantage which would also worm her (not tape) for a month and kill any mites etc.

He jabbed her with more antibio's and pain killers and told me to clean the ear daily. She is only now coming round from her sedation

ann-jen - What would you suggest as a better broad spectrum antibio? Im not afraid of vets by the way, in fact they dread coming to the yard as I question everything, especially Fynadine

 

[ann-jen]

It would depend on what sort of infection is present really and if I can identify that lovely smell! For routine surgery where there is a risk of infection but nothing there at the time I would maybe use amoxycillin or ceporex. Something more middle of the road would be perhaps synulox and if its a rip roaring nasty infection I'd go for the big guns such as baytril or marbocyl. Possibly if the dog is already on amoxycillin and its still infected I might add something like metronidazole to make sure I was dealing with all the anaerobes as well as the aerobes (bugs that like to live without oxygen are anaerobes and those that like oxygen are aerobes) and amoxycillin isn't great for anaerobes but metronidazole is.
What did the vet think? He/she is probably the best one to decide as he's seen the dog and smelt the lovely aroma.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Thanks for that ann-jen. Vet said that it wasnt infected, the smell was from the leaking discharge inside and out. He gave her a shot of antibio's and pain killers and gave me more amoxycillin 500.

I suppose the offending aroma could be likened to minced beef left out in the sun for 3 days

Appreciate your advice hun. Mika has started to feel much better in herself