Darwin has a gash on his leg, ADVICE NEEDED...

[Camilla and Darwin]

So I just found a gash on Darwin's leg. It looks like a "v", and each side of the "v" is about 1" long. It's from earlier today so the blood has clotted a little bit, but he's been licking it and blood is still coming away when I wipe it with a wet paper towel. I am going to take him to the vet tomorrow morning, but for tonight what should I do? 

Rinse it with Hydrogen Peroxide? Is there some kind of ointment I should put on it? Do any of you have an idea of how I can keep him from licking it, because we don't have a cone. It's on his upper hind leg. 

Thanks!

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

Good points.  Perhaps the best thing to do is call the vet for their advise!!!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Depending on your Vet office you could call first since you are so far away, tell them and see what they say. Sometimes watching and cleaning and Neosporin is enough.

[Susan and Sasha]

So sorry this happened to Darwin...

It sounds like you did the right thing so far Camilla.

I agree with the watch and wait recommendation....keeping it clean and watching for redness and swelling..

If it looks like isn't getting better...then take him in.

Sasha sends hugs to her friend...

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Karen has a good point.

I have used ointment on Daisy (per vet) but it was on her back and she could not lick it off. All the other incidents the Vet prescribed Oral antibiotics. 

You should go.

[Chelsea and Bailey]

I agree with waiting and looking for signs and symptoms of infection. You don't need antibiotics if it's not infected. You wouldn't go to get antibiotics after a cut if it wasn't infected either. That's just my two cents.

Bailey had a huge 3 inch hot spot On her paw recently and licked it raw. I cut the hair, washed it with warm water and just a plain soap, blow dried it and wrapped it so she couldn't lick. I would then change the bandage 2 to 3 times a day to check it out. It healed in less then a week. She also cut in between her toes right after and it looked pretty nasty, but again just a simple clean. Applied a bit of polysporin and wrapped it until she learned to leave it, then left it open to air and it healed beautifully. If there was sort or bad smelly discharge or if she became lethargic or had a temp I would've took her in.

Do what you feel is right for you!

[BG and Gavin]

When Gavin had some semi-deep puncture wounds on his nose, the vet shaved down the area and cleaned it with a medicated shampoo called Cetriclenz.  He sent me home with the shampoo with instructions to lather it up, let sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse.  Repeat twice weekly until resolved.  Worked great.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, that's the kind of treatments I've experienced, too. A soap, lotion or shampoo type product. Nothing that stays moist for any length of time or allows dirt to stick to it, like ointments.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Lucy just had a sebaceous cyst that pretty much developed overnight that was about the size of a golf ball.  By the time we got to our appointment late the next afternoon it had burst, and was seeping and looking pretty nasty.  The vet shaved it just a little bit (saying we certainly don't wanna take off too much of this pretty hair), and she said I should clean it with dish soap and warm water and keep neosporin on it.  The neosporin would keep things from getting down in it as well.  Then she put her on an antibiotic and we are now all better. 

[Leslie and Halas]

I hope Darwin's wound is better today.

[Camilla and Darwin]

What I meant by a lot of stuff coming out was actually that when we put on the peroxide all of this dried blood and mud that we thought was blood rinsed off, revealing the wound. Its looking pretty closed up, and the surrounding skin isn't red. I think we will watch and wait. The question is, should we continue putting on neosporin? Should we continue with the ace bandage?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Gauze would be better than an ace bandage, it would let more air in, I think.

[Camilla and Darwin]

How should I secure the Gauze to him?