Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog health - Ask members * If your pet is vomiting-bleeding-diarrhea etc. Vet time!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old February 11th, 2008, 05:51 PM
cmt489's Avatar
cmt489 cmt489 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 238
Any ideas for wrapping a dog's leg

I was trying to come up with ideas to help out my partner's dog over the last couple of weeks of her life. She is a 16 year old lab cross that is under continual veterinary care (likely a good reason she has made it to 16!).

While she has had a long and happy life, the decision has been made that it is time for us to put her down as her hind end has lost almost all strength and her arthritis is severe. She is on medication for the pain but the pain is starting to break through the medication.

In any event, we want to give her some relief from the buster collar that she has had to wear almost continually for the past several months. Despite best efforts by us and the vet, we cannot stop her from licking and working a spot on her front leg until it becomes massively infected (she does this within a day or two if she does not have the collar on). The vet suspects the reason she is so obsessed with this spot is that she has a growth under the skin which both bothers her a little bit and releases endorphines when licked. We had a similar growth removd on her paw and it resolved the issue, however, given that this one is so close to the artery, it was not an option.

We have tried wrapping the leg instead of making her wear the collar with mixed results in the past. With just gauze and vet wrap her paw will swell and she will also tear through it after a while. We tried a splint devised by the vet but she slides it down and works the spot plus she has trouble walking with the splint.

I am wondering if I can try wrapping her similar to how I used to wrap my horses using wrap without stretch to avoid the swelling plus, with the thicker padding and wrap, she may not get the release of the endorphines that she is seeking to trigger. Has anyone tried this and, if so, was there any success? Any tips? Does anyone have any alternate ideas that either the vet or we have not thought of? For the record, Bitter Apple Spray works for about 30 minutes before she is at it again. She likes the taste of hot sauce!

Thanks in advance for any input.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old February 11th, 2008, 07:21 PM
Jim Hall Jim Hall is offline
Kitty pimp
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: paterson new jersey
Posts: 4,788
If she doesnt move aroung much maybe loosly wrap the whole leg with pad and no pressure

I know the feeling I have had to make the same decsion with my ghetto shepherd
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old February 11th, 2008, 07:24 PM
Winston's Avatar
Winston Winston is offline
Mom of 3 precious Angels
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Posts: 7,300
I am sorry your going through this tough time! 16 is awesome! Maybe put a sock on her foot and tape it off ?

Cindy
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013
Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010
Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011
Sophie Aug 30, 2011

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old February 11th, 2008, 07:36 PM
coppperbelle's Avatar
coppperbelle coppperbelle is offline
Owned by goldens
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Montreal
Posts: 1,806
Any ideas

Have you tried spraying the bandage with bitter apple?
__________________
Goldens are like potato chips, you can never have just one.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old February 11th, 2008, 08:09 PM
dustybird's Avatar
dustybird dustybird is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Geraldton, ON & Lake Of The Woods
Posts: 366
not sure if it would work but what about a sock with the foot cut off then to keep it lightly in place with vet wrap at both ends. Then putting a long sleeve t-shirt on her. You could cut the arm of the shirt off of the leg that doesn't bother her and trim the bottom of the shirt so it's not to long and in the way. The sock underneath would give a little padding.

Just an idea that came to mind.

to all
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old February 11th, 2008, 09:00 PM
cmt489's Avatar
cmt489 cmt489 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 238
Quote:
Originally Posted by coppperbelle View Post
Have you tried spraying the bandage with bitter apple?
Total saturation, trust me!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old February 11th, 2008, 09:02 PM
cmt489's Avatar
cmt489 cmt489 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 238
Quote:
Originally Posted by dustybird View Post
Then putting a long sleeve t-shirt on her. You could cut the arm of the shirt off of the leg that doesn't bother her and trim the bottom of the shirt so it's not to long and in the way.
This just might be the ticket! I will definitely be trying the long T over top tonight. I might sew a sock to the bottom or inside to make a whole leg.

Thank you everyone!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old February 12th, 2008, 08:23 AM
Purpledomino's Avatar
Purpledomino Purpledomino is offline
NOT a senior member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 487
I have seen ads for soft type E collars that seem to be alot more comfortable and less stressful for the dog. One was a rolled type collar, you might have to do abit of searching around for something similar, or you could actually make something like it from a rolled towel or foam if you're handy. By the sounds of it a barrier method might be your only recourse for this dog. I found this one that looks good, but I know there are others out there. Good luck.

http://www.bonafido.com/page6.html
__________________
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Mahatma Gandhi


My loyal menagerie... (all neutered, spayed, and gelded...and YOU aren't safe either!)

Ruben (Bullmastiff)
Emmy (Miniature Pinscher)
Petie (Miniature Pinscher)
Shadow (Miniature Pinscher)
Zoe (APBT)
Tito (Paint Gelding)
Francesca (Miniature Horse Filly)
Vincenzo (APHA gelding)


Lots of fishies......
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old February 12th, 2008, 08:35 AM
Purpledomino's Avatar
Purpledomino Purpledomino is offline
NOT a senior member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 487
Here is another one I found. There are alot of alternatives that seem to make for happier dogs....even inflatable e-collars. Just do some searching and you might find something.

http://www.bitenot.com/index.html
__________________
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Mahatma Gandhi


My loyal menagerie... (all neutered, spayed, and gelded...and YOU aren't safe either!)

Ruben (Bullmastiff)
Emmy (Miniature Pinscher)
Petie (Miniature Pinscher)
Shadow (Miniature Pinscher)
Zoe (APBT)
Tito (Paint Gelding)
Francesca (Miniature Horse Filly)
Vincenzo (APHA gelding)


Lots of fishies......
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:45 AM.