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 March 3rd, 2014, 08:43 PM
mittens1997 mittens1997 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 38
Dog fight aftermath problems

On Saturday my girl Millie for in a dog fight with my sisters dog and walked away badly from it. We look her to the vet and she ended up getting about 20 stitches on her front leg along with two drains put in to drain out the infection. She is an outside dog, (with an insulated barn). Today we left her inside while we were out because it was her first day with her bandage off. Anyways, we had left her with her breakfast and water. We got home and most of her water was drunken but most of her food was still there. While she has never been an enthusiastic eater, normally she eats her food within the hour.

So thats a bit worrisome. Should i be concerned or nah? I let her outside after all day inside and she didn't pee or poop... and there was none inside. Also, She has to go back outside now. The vet told us she should be fine outside with her arm shaved like it is, but its still rather cold. (-25-40c ranging) Does anyone have any ideas to help her stay warm?

I crocheted her a little arm wrap, but while putting it on it kept snagging the stitches, and i didnt want it to accidentally pull some, so i opted out of that.
But still, she's cold! Does anyone have any suggestions to what i can do? It has to be open enough that her drains can still drain and not infect her stitches by draining onto them.

Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old March 3rd, 2014, 09:45 PM
Dog Dancer's Avatar
Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,667
Sorry to hear Millie was hurt in the fight. Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about being off the food for the first day, it could be the meds if she's on any, or from when they probably medicated her to stitch her. Of course, no food in, no poop out. If she doesn't eat her food tomorrow I would try to offer her something easy to eat like boiled hamburger or chicken with some steamed rice. It would be easy on her tummy and probably very tempting. Just don't let her gorge. As for being cold - she probably is not. If she is used to being outside her one leg is not going to make a huge difference. Will she have access to the heated barn still? If so, don't fret. I know it's hard not to. Not putting the cover on the leg was a good idea, she could have pulled stitches if she tried to remove it. Does she have a cone so she can't lick at the stitches?

Good luck to you both. What type of dog is Millie?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old March 4th, 2014, 09:13 AM
mittens1997 mittens1997 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 38
Thanks for the great reply! We fed her supper with the other dogs last night and she ate every last bit. Guess the threat of them eating it for her was enough for her. As for her leg, i suppose i'll just have to watch and see if shes acting cold. She still has access to the barn-- but its not heated. Just insulated. Eventually the dogs and cats will have a heated barn, but we are still pretty new to our property and so many other things need to be done first--unfortunatley.

Yes, she does have a cone. Except its so thin its falling apart. So we need to locate another one for her (we have at least two in our house, we just cannot find them!!) one of our other dogs keeps trying to lick Millies stitches. So i think when we find our cones, she gets one too.

Millie's breed is a mystery to us Our best guess is Border collie/ Golden Retreiver. Shes got border collie coloring, and a golden retriever everything else. Except for her eyes. We dont know whete those could be from.

Judge for yourself
*old picture*
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old March 4th, 2014, 09:42 AM
marko's Avatar
marko marko is offline
Administrator - Pet lover
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Montreal Quebec Canada
Posts: 12,651
Can't dooger stay in the warm house another day or two while she's healing if you feel it's too cold outside?
supah-cutie btw!
__________________
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with.
Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay.
Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB?
Pet facebook group
Check out the Pet podcast
Follow me on Twitter
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old March 4th, 2014, 10:42 AM
Dog Dancer's Avatar
Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,667
Well her eyes say Husky to me. She's beautiful. Glad she ate. Do keep an eye on her with the stitches, my dogs recently have never bothered their stitches and I found the cones just bothered them more than the stitches, but every dog is different. Sorry I mis-read the insulated barn part. But I still wouldn't worry too much. If she's used to being outside she has the coat for it. Hope it all goes well. Keep us posted.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old March 6th, 2014, 09:04 AM
mittens1997 mittens1997 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by marko View Post
Can't dooger stay in the warm house another day or two while she's healing if you feel it's too cold outside?
supah-cutie btw!
She could, but shes got a full winter coat and the house is VERY hot on her. Seeing her outside i think shes okay
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old March 6th, 2014, 09:09 AM
mittens1997 mittens1997 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 38
Thumbs down

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dog Dancer View Post
Well her eyes say Husky to me. She's beautiful. Glad she ate. Do keep an eye on her with the stitches, my dogs recently have never bothered their stitches and I found the cones just bothered them more than the stitches, but every dog is different. Sorry I mis-read the insulated barn part. But I still wouldn't worry too much. If she's used to being outside she has the coat for it. Hope it all goes well. Keep us posted.

The eyes do suggest Husky, but nothing else about her does. Its very strange. Millie definitely when we have taken her cone off for whatever reason, the first thing she does is try to lick them.

We've gone through two cones with her now, they freeze and shatter in the cold. Yesterday we came home to find cone #2 broken and some of her stitches pulled.... Millieeee!!!!!
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 04:03 PM.