I am a bad Mommy!!!!

[cheryl & oliver]

Well Oliver was doing so well with his foot problem, he was taking his meds, no problem, leaving the bandage and sock on, no problem, I knew it was too good to last. I took him to the vet to check his foot out, and he told me it 85-90 percent better. We were so happy, so I took him to get a bath, he really needed it, and he was so matted, my fault, I was so busy caring for the foot and working that I let the brushing go, so he now has a doodle face and tail, and a shaved body..The groomer bathed him in a very good oatmeal shampoo that I bought, and really had no choice, so my beautiful doodle looks ridiculous, and not only that, he discovered his paw again, and he has taken off the sock, and tape, and dressing 3x today...So now he is wearing the elizabethian coller, not happy about it, but at least he is not freaking out, like he did before...I am just so depressed that we have to go thru this all over again, with cleaning and dressing etc..but I will, of course...Ugh when will this nightmare end? Yhe vet says once they do this it is very hard to cure, even when the sore is gone, which it is, now he just irritated it again...I know everyone will think I was nuts to take him to be groomed, but he really really needed it, Just hope the fur grows back quickly, he looks so funny with a sheared body and legs and a full face and gorgeous tail...Thanks for listening...

[cheryl & oliver]

I know u are of course right, but he looks so sad, and I feel so bad for him, but I must say, he is adapting to the cone thing, so maybe this will do the trick...I have decided that I am going to keep his fur on the shorter side, like maybe 1-2 inches long, maybe it will help with the matting..I love the waves and curls he gets, but I hate those matts too, we will see what I can handle, lol, ok, maybe 3 inches...Thanks for the kind words Jane....

[shelly]

AH! FOUND IT!!!! My husband threw it out with the old papers.... The website is www.NurturedPets.com. The strips are called Anti-lickStrip. The ad says" it is an all natural ingredient bandage that deters obsessive licking, biting and chewing. For use on hot spots, post surgery, minor wounds, granulomas, insect bites, and more". Who knows... may help

[cheryl & oliver]

Shelly, thank you so much, I looked at it and read about it and ordered a trial size to see if he will keep it on...I appreciate the time you spent finding the ad again...I see u added me as a friend, ty, and I will do the same. I will let you know how this works when I get it..

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I put this on favorites. You never know when you might need it. Thanks, Nancy and Ned

[LG & Sadie]

Thanks Shelly, I went to the site for the anti-lick strip too~ During Spring and Summer especially we seem to run into the hot spot worries-Sadie loves to swim and I recently read that sometimes a hot spot is the result of improper drying-which leads to licking-n-chewing-n-scratching etc. Maybe it's just a coincidence. I am no expert....but it will be good to have them on hand!

[LG & Sadie]

I completely agree with the feedback regarding only "good" Moms think they are "bad" Moms....Oliver is lucky to have you and hindsight is always 20-20....his hair will grow quickly and his foot will heal.....I think the worry is that a place that was once a sore can become a hot spot the dog revisits....but can doesn't mean it will. Especially with you so on top of the situation! I always remind Sadie to be gentle with herself-since she knows the word gentle...and it does seem like she backs off a little when she is scratching etc. Good luck with it!! It will be okay~

[cheryl & oliver]

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words. Oliver knows the meaning of the word gentle, I say it whenever we give him something, so that is a great idea if I see him scratching, if he will listen, lol...I just ordered the strips that Shelly told me about, so we will see if they might work and help the area heal. It was looking so great until he got at it yesterday...Today he is much calmer, and he has those sad eyes when he looks at us...My heart is breaking for him, he is such a sweet dog, and he is probably thinking to himself why are they doing all this to me???...My poor baby, hopefully this too will pass and quickly I am hoping. Again thanks...

[shelly]

GREAT Cheryl! I hope they work. Funny how that just happened to catch my eye the other day and it actually stuck in my head. Hopefully they will help. I too read about them. I think I will order them too, just to have on hand if ever needed. It doesn't look like they sell them any where in NY so I will order straight from the company. Fingers crossed for you. Let me know how they work. I know what you mean about those puppy eyes... they really make your heart sink. Hang in there! {{{{{ Hugs}}}}}

[T. Byrne]

Have you tried one of those blow up collars? When Rue got fixed I got one of those and she didn't seem to mind it as much. She could curl up and eat and bring me toys.

[cheryl & oliver]

^Yes we did, he can get to the foot with one of those. We tried that. he can get to the foot witht he lampshade on too, just not as much, I am waiting for the vet to return my call now...I am just so frustrated, It looks great, I don't see any redness, but as soon as I take the collar off, he goes right to it and licks....I just ordered these new kind of bandages, so I am hoping that he will hate the taste and leave it alone so that the fur can grow in over the area...I am almost at my wits end here, I could cry...I change the dressing and clean the area with Betadine every day, put antibiotic ointment on it, and then dress it, and he is taking temirl, and an oral antibiotic and benedryl...He seems just fine. he eats and drinks and poops and pees just fine, I am just at a loss as to wht to do next...The vet did say it could take months with this even when it is healed. Once they get it in their heads to lick an area it is a major problem to stop it...Thanks for the suggestion though, I appreciate it...

[shelly]

I feel so bad Cheryl. Hope these bandages work! Maybe it itches him because it's healing or the hair growing back itches. I know when Tori's leg was shaved down for the IV, she kept licking it because the hair was growing back. I guess they develop bad habits like biting your nails. Poor Oliver!

[cheryl & oliver]

Me too shelly, believe me....Oh by the way, when I called to order the stuff, the customer service rep told me that they sell them at Petsmart, so I called the one near me, and they only had the package of 6 for $30.00...I decided to order the trial pack of two from the company directly, it was only 10.95, so it was alot cheaper and if it works I will go and get it there so I have more of them. They told me that it is a new item in the market, so if anyone wants them they can get them at Petsmart. BUT you have to tell them to look for them at the wellness area, and since they are new there, they or u have to look for them...