Gavin's dotage

So his leg is starting to heal up. 5 weeks in. It took about 2 weeks for the scab to fall off, during which time the scab was getting smaller and the wound bigger. I am just so glad it is looking better and the wound is significantly smaller. For a while there it wasn't changing. I am thinking once it gets a bit smaller I can use a blister bandage (a waterproof stretchy seal type bandage) and we can try the beach in 2 weeks. I know Gavin misses the beach....
 

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Cindy said:
So his leg is starting to heal up. 5 weeks in. It took about 2 weeks for the scab to fall off, during which time the scab was getting smaller and the wound bigger. I am just so glad it is looking better and the wound is significantly smaller. For a while there it wasn't changing. I am thinking once it gets a bit smaller I can use a blister bandage (a waterproof stretchy seal type bandage) and we can try the beach in 2 weeks. I know Gavin misses the beach....
Click to expand...
Looks so much better, Cindy!
What a relief!
Beach visit…here we come!!!
 
I was worried it was going to end up a chronic sore. Since that leg has limited feeling, the concept of it ending up like a diabetic ulcer isn't too far out there.
Another bonus of it shrinking is I can use regular sized bandaids to cover it as I have gone through most of my oversized ones. The bandaid will still be covered by gauze, vet wrap, sock, then bootie. I am changing bandages about every 36 hours (with honey 2-3 days is normal depending on exudate). So this Sunday afternoon means the next one will be Monday evening.
 
It has dragged on so long I was worried it was going to turn into a chronic sore (side note, in doing research on what was the best care I looked at diabetic ulcers and bed sores. bed sores in people are brutal). I am totally relieved there is noticeable improvement. I have pictures since this began and it was disheartening to say the least to not see significant improvement for so long. I know some people would have gone to the vet, but I am pretty realistic about things. What would they have possibly done? OK, antibiotics (which don't really help healing, just prevent infection which he didn't have. and he just had a 3 week course of them so I wouldn't feel good about another 3 weeks!). they would clean and bandage it. send me home with instructions to change the bandage, etc. Would cost me $100-$200 and I would still be changing bandages for weeks. I might have started with honey sooner, but the vet might not have advised it unless I had a follow up for lack of healing. So instead I 'borrowed' some sterile stuff (Saline, syringes, and needles) from work to clean the wound, ordered some medical grade honey and hydrogel, and went to work. Probably the best part of catching it early was I was able to keep it clean.
 
I just had to post...the wound is still getting better. I am not gonna post pictures every day (cause that would be too much). But I am no longer feeling resigned to this going on forever. It is slowly closing up more and more. and I have a sweetheart of a dog who just lays there while I clean and re-bandage his leg every day. He has always been perfect (I literally do this with him on his dog bed, and a small bowl under his foot to catch the waste water from his cleaning). He doesn't move as I go through the stages of unwrapping the old bandage, cleaning it, taking pictures, applying the honey, new 3 layers of bandages, etc.

I am so lucky :)
 
I don't intend to sound like a broken record, but Gavin being so trusting and calm has made all of this possible. If had been stubborn or cranky or bratty, none of this would have been easy and we might not be where we are now. It has really changed my opinion of what type of canine behavior is acceptable/desirable in a pet. I see that cute high spirited but spoiled and jealous little dog and see a nightmare in the making (I will ignore a bratty jealous dog and pet the sweet well behaved older dog every time, even while the owner excuses the behavior). Obviously, a dog will behave differently with their owner vs a stranger, I get that, but Gavin has been a veterinarian's dream. And he has been through a lot at the vet's over the years (surgeries, a month of radiation, etc.) and at home. I know we can't control everything, but I will never overlook canine socialization and temperment training EVER.
 
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