My poor baby, Chester, started limping really badly last night. I can see now that there's a decent sized chunk been taken out of one of his pads. Any tips on what I can do to help it heal a little quicker or make him comfy? Being a greyhound, he just looks so pathetic limping around - he's all legs. And he's so timid and sucky, he keeps looking at me with those brown eyes...  :-/

I admit, he is my baby. If it was my other mutt, I probably wouldn't worry so much because she's tougher and she just gets on with it. Stephen thinks our human baby will have more 'tough love' from me than this dog!

Here's my poorly mutt. He looks this wet and submissive all the time. He wouldn't say boo to a goose.

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Em, if you can get him to a vet, take him.  He probably needs to have it disinfected, cleaned and wrapped.  Since it's on the bottom of his foot, there's a good chance if it's not already infected, it will be, which would require antibiotics.  

If it's not that bad, you might just want to give the vet a call and ask if there's any disinfectant for wounds that you can find over at the pet store. Sometimes these little things left untreated just become worse.  

Pepp  8-)

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Thanks for those. We've just tried a warm salt bath and some antiseptic cream on it, so we'll see how that goes. I dug out a sock to put on it when he goes outside to protect it from any bacteria.

If it's no better in 24-48 hours, I'll be making an appointment at the vet.

Darn animals know just how to tug the heart strings, don't they.

It's those sad eyes....they sit around when we're gone and practice them till they're perfect! If you have a good relationship with your vet, see if they'll just call you in a prescription for antibitics pill and creme. Good luck!

Joe

I would agree with Pepp completly. We can guess what to do and do the best we can but often the vet can get them on just the right course of treatment and help them heal faster. I ened up doing a midnight clinic with my golden retreiver last spring because of a wound that quickly turned into a nasty infection in her neck. It cost me $200 to do the clinic and a $95 speeding ticket getting there. If I had trusted my instict and taken her that morning I would have saved a ton of money and suffering for her. Good luck! I hope your baby is doing better soon.

Charlotte

Em,

After you soak it in salt water, you might want to put a little peroxide on it to burn out anything that might be left. (I'm a believer in peroxide).

Hope your little one is feeling better real soon.

Hugs BD :-*

Em,

I hope Chester is feeling better by now.  His picture made me smile.  

Jeannie

Thanks all.

I gave him 2 saltwater baths last night and one this morning and I had some liquid antiseptic which I dabbed on a couple of times. It is looking much better.

He's now trying to pull the wool over my eyes though. He limped downstairs this morning, grunting with every step and I let him out to do his business. Suddenly, a cat appeared in the garden. Now, there's a 4ft fence to keep them enclosed to go to the toilet (just makes it easier to pick up!) and when he saw that cat, he leapt over it like it was nothing and tore after the cat. Thank goodness the garden fences are 9ft tall hedges. The cat got away and he came trotting back all pleased with himself. Then it was like he remembered he wasn't supposed to be able to do that and started limping again.

Playin' me for a fool...  ::)

PS - Glad he made you smile Jeannie. He truly is a character and does something to make me smile everyday too! Here's another one of him in his usual sleeping position...

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ETA the pic...

That is terrible... he barely has the strength to get his belly rubbed.  Looks like he needs a treat or two or three.

Em, if you can talk to a vet, please do so. Pad injuries on a dog, like what you describe, are hard to heal.

After you clean the wound, like you have been, use soap and water, pat it dry. Get some gauze pads, and an elastic bandage. They make one kind that sticks to itself when winding it on, and they come in crazy bright colors! Make sure not to get it too tight. Then, use a plastic bag, like a bread bag, to cover it when he goes outside. (My weimaraner had a few injuries I had to nurse her through at home, including pad injuries from ice).

As long as it's kept clean and dry, he'll have a good chance of it healing.

What a cutie pie.  :)