Attacked

Hey everyone! I have a question. My dog got attacked Saturday night by another dog. Left her with 6 stitches and a bad neck wound. The thing is in the 4 days she had her stitches she has pulled them ALL out! The other dogs owner paid for the whole thing.. We have no money since we have paid all our bills and rent. It is not that bad.. I put peroxide and Neosporin on it and put Gauze on it. What do you think that we should do?

[Peg]

I took care of a friend's dog whose choke chain had gone in his neck Basically, that's what the vet had me do. Neosporin and guaze. Just keep a watchful eye on the dog and the injury.

[spot]

Keep her indoors, or on a lead while she's exercising, give her time, dogs are good at healing. Food, rest, the occasional bit of attention. Lord, I could do with much the same, now I think about it. Wuff.

[robinseggs]

Your vet should have given you one of those big plastic "elizabithan" (sp) collars that prevents the dog from being able to get at those stitches. You should first call the vet and tell them exactly what you told us--that you are not prepared to pay anymore, however this is what happened. Any reputable vet would give you one of those collars and tell you what to do next. Your pooch should have gone home wearing that collar. They look funny in them but keeps them from bothering the site and promotes a faster heal. Good luck--so sorry about the attack. Hope she is feeling better!

[john8pies]

Do you have the equivalent of the British RSPCA (animal charity) who might be able to give free or subsidised treatment, or at least good advice? Good luck!

[minks]

Oh hun sorry to hear about the attack on your dog. I hope it will be ok. I am not sure a plastic collar would work if the neck wound is on the area that collar sits.
I think like humans just keep it clean and make sure you stop pooch from licking it all the time. Very nice the other owner paid the bills. What a blessing. Also watch pooch when it goes out side to do it's duty so it does not roll around on the ground in an attempt to scratch the wound as it heals.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[Agnes]

Place some Arnica pellets in her drinking water. keep her in a cool place and i believe some Calms she can have also. These homeopathic remedies work well and promote quicker healing. each day she will get better.

[valerie]

Depending on the site of the wound, if it was a bad one on the neck
that is probably why you weren't issued an e-collar.

You describe the wound as "bad" so I would take the dog back to the
vet. The owner of the attacking dog will just have to pay those
charges, too. I wouldn't let it go, and I wouldn't try home remedy
treatments. You're just setting yourself up for further disaster. If the
vet thought it could be treated as an open wound, the stitches
wouldn't have gone in in the first place!

When you take your dog back, ask for tips on how to prevent your
puppers from further damage to the wound. You might even have to
resort to some sedation of some sort.

You could use an old, soft t-shirt on your dog to keep the wound
covered, also.

[BabyRider]

What Val said....
Home remedies may be ok for people, but dogs aren't people, now, are they? Talk to your vet, and the T-shirt is a great way to protect the wound.
I also agree that the owner of the other dog will probably pay for re-stitching. The vet may not even charge you for that. The clinics I worked in would gladly re-stitch if the dog pulled them early.

Originally Posted by BabyRider

What Val said....
Home remedies may be ok for people, but dogs aren't people, now, are they? Talk to your vet, and the T-shirt is a great way to protect the wound.
I also agree that the owner of the other dog will probably pay for re-stitching. The vet may not even charge you for that. The clinics I worked in would gladly re-stitch if the dog pulled them early.

Hey! Thanks everyone. I talked to the vet and the emergency clinic.. They said that they would still charge us for the new stitches. It would be between 150.00-200.00. The reason they stitched in the forst place was because it was a hole.. a big one. She has had her stitches in four days & it closed A LOT. it is open maybe 1/2 inch.. The one on her neck is about an inch. That one has healed pretty good in the last few days. I think my husband and I are going to talk to that lady.. I just feel bad asking because it is not her fault that Saydee ripped them out. I don't know what to do.