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!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

You can buy "vet wrap" from the vet - basically it's an elastic tensor-type bandage that will stick to itself but not to the fur.  They will probably let you buy a half-used roll for a few dollars if they're nice!

However - you said your vet was far away... so a tensor bandage secured with some non-toxic medical tape (if you have some) would probably do the trick too.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Again, elastic bandages don't allow enough air to circulate around the wound.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Not even if you just use a single layer?  Maybe not.  If it's loose-fitting I guess he would just lick it off!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Use a long strip of gauze wrapped around and secured the same way you do the ace bandage. Not a gauze pad. They sell rolls of gauze bandages.

[BG and Gavin]

Honestly I would not put ointment on and leave it uncovered after you thoroughly clean it.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Gordie has had wounds.  We were told to use Betadyne (not peroxide) to clean and  Animax Ointment (from the vet).  We keep it on hand for hot spots etc.  It is not really expensive. We try to keep the dogs from licking the ointment off, but you know how that goes. :-}

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I hope you are comfortable in caring for it on your own and if not, then that's when you should take him. If I took my kids to the Dr for every cut, scratch or boo-boo, i'd still be paying for them. Kids don't lick their wounds, they just play in the dirt, touch it with filthy hands and are probably more at risk for infection than some of our dogs with what they are exposed to in schools and playgrounds.
Vets probably don't use neosporin because, heck, you can get that at the drug store, and why would you pay a vet and buy his special medicines if you could just use neosporin or some triple antibiotic? That's just my opinion. Not knocking anyones vet. These are the same people that recommend Science Diet because they make profits on it, so I don't feel I can be all wrong. I would clean, dry , use antibiotic ointment, wrap and watch. But again that's just me.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Amen.

[Camilla and Darwin]

:-)

[Laurie Young]

Did you get Darwin to the Vet today?

How is he doing? Please let us know

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

I would do the same for Darwin as I would for a patient.  You've already cleaned it up, but wouldn't use HP any more just soap and water if needed.  you can apply neosporin (or generic)....I have use this on Harley.  you can buy this bandage that looks like ace wrap but much thinner and it sticks to its self.  http://http://www.petco.com/product/111024/3M-Pet-Care-Self-Adheren...  it's breathable and will keep him from licking it.  Walmart also carries this stuff in the bandage area.  We use it all the time for patients who have frail skin and tears easily.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

This is great stuff and I have a roll of it around at all times for my two. Comes in very handy. Murphy has figured out how to get it off, but if i tape with paper tape at the top and bottom, it stumps him and he'll leave it alone.