How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid



Message

LadyConstanze -> How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 1:28:35 PM)

To cut a long story short, one of my dogs was attacked and badly bitten (shoulder) by a Jack Russell, the owner legged it (his own dog bit him when scooping him up - which I took as a sign of divine justice) when I wanted the name and address to send the vet bill to, we've been avoiding that park for the sole reason of that psychotic miniature monster and I took them for different walks, yesterday we walked along the canals and I had them on a very short lead as there are young swans and parent swans tend to be a bit aggressive. Around a bend came the damned Jack Russell with his retarded owner, I couldn't unclip my dogs from the leads so they were more or less defenseless, I managed to kick the dog into the canal but in the process the male Dobie had a piece ripped out where the chest turns into the stomach (thank heavens for that, the rip cage protected him from having more than a flesh wound), the girl Dobie got bitten in her rear and I got bitten in the leg (7 stitches and I'm up to date with my tetanus shots and rabies is not an issue in the UK), saw the vet immediately, they cleaned the wounds and gave them shots (boy got some from the previous Jack Russell attack a week before), the vet said we can only hope for the best and to clean the wound regularly, at least twice a day, I'm doing that but it seems to be infected and he's obviously in pain, I got some Metacam for the pain (dogs) and the vet couldn't tell me what else to do. I heard ribwort infused helps with infections.

I'm quite worried because if the vet says "We can only hope for the best" it's not good, he's getting lots of love and care but I want to do whatever I can.

The cops are aware of the dog as he has bitten quite a lot of dogs and even killed 2 dogs, but so far they couldn't find out who the owner is or where he lives, they think he might not even be local because the incidents happen about every 3 months.

Oh yeah, I also beat up the owner with my handbag (big leather bag) and told the cops, who suggested that I felt threatened and needed to fight him off, which is of course what happened, nothing like me losing my temper after having had my dogs attacked and pieces ripped out of them for the 2nd time. Must ask cops if pepper spray is legal, just in case I encounter asshat and his psycho dog again.

So any herbal remedies that aren't dangerous to dogs? Both are limping around and are just phased, they usually cuddle up at my feet and Alf (who's bite wounds are horrible) shivers a lot, I wrap him up to keep him warm, not sure if dogs can have shock but it seems to me that that is what he has. Once they're better, I plan to take them out to a secure area where they can play with dogs they know, to stop them from being paranoid about other dogs. Seriously never seen anything as psychotic as this Jack Russell and his owner doesn't seem much better, one of the guys where you look and you have to look really hard to find a tooth, and the few remaining ones have interesting brownish colours - and he isn't even old.






LaTigresse -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 1:33:36 PM)

If it were me, and I am no expert. First and foremost I would make sure they are on antibiotics.

Then I would make sure it stays open and draining and that they cannot get to it. The dreaded cone head.

And there is a purple-ish blue wound spray I get for the horses that has also worked great on dogs, as long as they cannot lick it. I get it at the farm supply store. It is made for livestock there is no reason it cannot be put on a dog.



WinsomeDefiance -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 1:54:16 PM)

I don't know if the UK has something like a farm/feed store where you can buy certain antibiotics and antiseptics for animals.  I can go to the Tractor Supply store (we have one just a couple miles away) and see what they have and mail it to you if you like?  Not sure what the laws are regarding mailing that stuff, but I'm pretty sure as long as it is for animals it is legal to ship. 

Hope your dogs, and you, get healed up soon. 




needlesandpins -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:01:16 PM)

for the shock i'd give them rescue remedy. you can get in in liquid form from most supermarkets or boots. anica for swelling and bruising, again oral. is stick with a mild salt solution for anything except fungal infections. either that or hibiscrub diluted which again you can get from boots. he should be on antibiotics though. the trouble with a wound in the area it is in is that the skin can easily tear lower under the wound so that it forms a pocket. depending on when this happened will depend on whether the heat and swelling are due to tissue shock or infection. you could try placing a finger just lower than the wound and slide it gently up towards the opening to see if infection is pocketing there. if it is then it needs flushing out a couple of times a day and the lower stitches taking out, the very last one at least to allow any puss to come out otherwise the whole lot could burst.

once it's knitted together though, try aloe-vera gel over the wounds.

you can put the rescue remedy in their water so they get a little dose everytime they drink.

hope they recover quickly.

needles

eta; gentian violet, or purple spray is no good in this instance. it's for minor wounds and scuffs really. had this been on the leg you could have used allevyn pads and hydrogel to draw any manky stuff out, but keeping it attached would be a problem in the area it's in really.



angelikaJ -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:02:11 PM)

Here they will take the dog for a few days and do IV antibiotics...is that not an option in the UK?

As for the dog, the police know the location of where the owner takes the dog, or does he move him around... .

Is there a local paper that might do a story? Someone might come forward who knows who the dog is. Chances are he has bitten dogs/people within his own neighborhood.



Aylee -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:02:27 PM)

For my dogs I have used some stuff called Wound Kote. I think that is the same as what LaT is referring to. It works great, but it will stain things. I have two male black labs that occasionally have gotten teed off at each other.

If your dogs will let you warm moist heat is also good.

If it is a puss-y infection you may need to lance and whatever it is called when you use a syringe and a saline solution to rinse it out. (I am at that stage where I forget vocabulary.)

Wound Kote link with a picture of the container. http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=cbd668a2-8343-411c-86a8-7d2f81b0be23



LaTigresse -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:03:53 PM)

That is the stuff!! Love it.



LadyConstanze -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:10:19 PM)

They're on antibiotics, the vet recommended them straight away as we don't know if the other dog had all the shots, the spray might not be such a good idea, I gotta keep it open and airy and he can lick it, additionally girlie licks it for him.



needlesandpins -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:16:37 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aylee

For my dogs I have used some stuff called Wound Kote. I think that is the same as what LaT is referring to. It works great, but it will stain things. I have two male black labs that occasionally have gotten teed off at each other.

If your dogs will let you warm moist heat is also good.

If it is a puss-y infection you may need to lance and whatever it is called when you use a syringe and a saline solution to rinse it out. (I am at that stage where I forget vocabulary.)

Wound Kote link with a picture of the container. http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=cbd668a2-8343-411c-86a8-7d2f81b0be23


as i said, those purple sprays are not good for open wounds, only minor cuts as it can burn more sensitive lower tissue and prevent healing. aloe-vera, while a minor miracle in itself, can also do the same, hence only use once the wounds are knitted.

irrigating is the word i think you were looking for [;)]

needles



WinsomeDefiance -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:28:31 PM)

One option is to make a poultice from fresh Basil. Basil is a decent antiseptic and has antibacterial properties. Steep the leaves like you are making a tea. You can use the tea to irrigate the wound and then put the wet leaves on the wound as a poultice. It wn't hurt the dogs if they eat or lick it. I've used this for acne cures, sore throats and mouth sores and it always works amazingly well. I've also added cloves to numb the wound for mouth sores and sore throats, but I dn't knw if cloves wrk on an open wound for animals.



LadyConstanze -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:29:35 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: angelikaJ

Here they will take the dog for a few days and do IV antibiotics...is that not an option in the UK?

As for the dog, the police know the location of where the owner takes the dog, or does he move him around... .

Is there a local paper that might do a story? Someone might come forward who knows who the dog is. Chances are he has bitten dogs/people within his own neighborhood.


Well, since they are really gentle giants, the attack spooked them so much so taking them away from their home would make the shock much worse, they got antibiotic shots as they don't react very well to the oral antibiotics, the girl is mostly fine, just can't sit very well and with her it's possibly more insult than injury, the boy is seriously torn up. I couldn't get a grip on the little fucker and when he shot out from underneath Alfie and bit Kia into her butt, I got a chance to give him a kick, he then lunged at my leg and I used the other foot to kick him hard enough that he let go and fell into the water. When the owner then shouted at me, I just lost it, grabbed my (admittedly heavy) bag and just hammered him. Have I mentioned that I really like Gucci now for the big metal linked G, I hope it fucking hurt the wanker.

The police said they had plenty reports about the dog and the owner, but they always seem to be 3 months apart, there is a lot of biting and then nothing for 3 months, so the guy might not even be local. My hope is that he will come through with his threat of suing me for hammering me with the handbag, because then I get a name, though I don't think he'd be in a position to pay the roughly £1K the treatment has cost so far.

What really freaked me out was when they said they suspect it's the same dog who killed a Pomeranian last year and tore the balls off a Labrador and then ripped the guts out so the Lab had to be put down. If he's not local and only visiting every couple of months, dunno if there's much of a chance to catch him.

I keep washing with a wet flannel, salt water is not so great as while it might kill some germs it will also harm the healthy tissue. I've been washing it with herbal tea and warm water so far. With a human I would use tea tree oils but with animals it's not such a great idea. They both seem a bit glued to me (even more than usual) and are looking for reassurance permanently.

So far there is a bit of puss, but it's quite early and you see the different layers of flesh, there is wound liquid seeping out but I think that's normal, I got the girl to park her bottom in some luke warm water, she looked a bit unhappy but then seemed to realize it does her good, with the boy, I just keep on washing it and I wrapped him up in a flannel sheet to avoid anything getting in, as the cats share the dog blankets and I don't want cat hair getting into the open wound.

I'll be out searching ribwort tomorrow and make an infusion to wash the wound with it.



LadyConstanze -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:31:22 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: WinsomeDefiance

One option is to make a poultice from fresh Basil. Basil is a decent antiseptic and has antibacterial properties. Steep the leaves like you are making a tea. You can use the tea to irrigate the wound and then put the wet leaves on the wound as a poultice. It wn't hurt the dogs if they eat or lick it. I've used this for acne cures, sore throats and mouth sores and it always works amazingly well. I've also added cloves to numb the wound for mouth sores and sore throats, but I dn't knw if cloves wrk on an open wound for animals.


I give that a try, I only have dried basil at the moment, will that work too? Otherwise I'm off to the supermarket and get some.



needlesandpins -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:40:06 PM)

salt is only bad for a wound if the solution is too strong or there is a yeast/fungal infection. the serum leakage is the wounds way or trying to clear itself so that is good as long as it doesn't dry and block the wound.

just a thought as you mentioned herbal tea.....chamomile tea bags are great. it's not just a calmer for the nerves but also is very good for the skin. i've used it when the horses get inflamed eyes from grass seeds. use the tea as a flush and the bags as a soother.

needles



LadyConstanze -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 2:57:15 PM)

Actually the vet told me to not use salt water as it will damage the healthy tissue, and I really don't want to use chamomile, it's a bit of an old wife's tale that it is good for eye infections, it's good taken internally but on the eyes it often aggravates the infection (learned that as a kid when the oculist told my grandma off for rinsing my eyes with chamomile tea and making the infection worse), so I won't treat an open wound with it.



needlesandpins -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 3:20:51 PM)

oh well, i've got my info from a qualified herbalist and a homeopath who speacialises in animals and works with my vet.

it does work and has saved me a small fortune but heyho

thought i'd try to help as it area i have alot of experience in the area.

needles



LadyConstanze -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 3:31:19 PM)

As I said, if the vet tells me to be careful with salt water, I think the vet is quite qualified, and as for the chamomile, internal use fantastic, external use not so great as it tends to irritate. I like herbs done some extensive research on them, I'm just not going to risk my dog's health on something that I know from personal experience (and the word of a doctor) irritates, my eye went from mildly red to seriously inflamed when grandma washed it with chamomile tea, great for mouth ulcers but eyes, nope. Good that it worked for your horses, but the dog is my responsibility and something I wouldn't do to myself due to the known risks, it would be irresponsible to treat him with it.



pahunkboy -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 3:43:57 PM)

FR,

HUGS.

I know with humans-  peroxide can have its uses.  Go with you gut feeling on this thing.   Sometimes a pet knowing they are loved makes all the difference.  So stay close to him,  talk to him... pets love when they are talked to.  Hearing the owners voice is of comfort to them.

I wish I could be more helpful.



pahunkboy -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 3:48:09 PM)

FR 2.

here in PA the owner is always responsible for a bite.  Period. 

Watch if things are too humid there-  that can aggravate things.  Sometime dogs know better then we do what they need. 



Rule -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 3:49:31 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyConstanze
the vet said we can only hope for the best and to clean the wound regularly, at least twice a day, I'm doing that but it seems to be infected and he's obviously in pain, I got some Metacam for the pain (dogs) and the vet couldn't tell me what else to do.

My brother once told me that the best treatment for wounded horses is to throw lots of cold water onto the wound. I dunno if a dog can take that.

Alternatively - but likely to be vehemently opposed by people who know better - you might bathe the wound in strong alcohol once or twice a day for a couple of minutes. Alcohol kills bacteria.

Then again, you might put a layer of honey onto it. (The sugar both dehydrates the wound and supplies the dog cells with energy.)



Rule -> RE: How to treat a dog who's got a bite? (6/22/2011 3:51:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyConstanze
he can lick it, additionally girlie licks it for him.

dog saliva is anti-bacterial



Page: [1] 2 3 4 5   next >   >>

Valid CSS!




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy
6.152344E-02