Ted had surgery on Wednesday to remove a lump from the under side of his tail. He went in to change the bandages on Saturday and they were concerned it was infected because it was draining a lot. He has been on cepha antibiotics since Wednesday, the day of the surgery.

Today he pulled the bandage off when we were out, even though he was wearingan Elizabethan collar. I called the emergency vet they said clean it with diluted betadine and rewrap it, which I did. He is going in tomorrow for recheck. I guess I am posting because I am nervous and need to post. Anyone have any experiences like this or anything to do that will help? Mostly I guess I am posting because I feel helpless.

Thanks.


To

Don't feel badly, you're doing ok.
Just make sure the wrap isn't on too tightly. Please. We want to keep his tail.
THe vet may need to culture the drainage to see if maybe the bacteria involved is not affected by the currant antibiotics. It just may take some medication adjustment to correct it. Keep him comfortable and healthy as possible to keep his immune system working as efficiently as it can.
Best wishes for a speey recovery. Tails can be difficult to heal.
Hang in there.

How's he doing today?

Keith, I feel your pain, sorry you'll are going thru this. All will be well. Dan

Tails can be tough to heal because they are always moving and because they are "distal" meaning way out on the end of the line- they don't have a super-duper blood supply-but they do heal-it just might take a little longer than other wounds with which you are more familiar.

Thanks for your posts. To give an update...his tail is still infected. Been at the vet everyday for a bandage change. I ask if I could start changing it at home, but the vet wants to see if it is still improving everyday. Luckily they are only billing me for a tech appt, even though the vet looks at it everyday. It's a new vet to me but they seem to be doing the best they can.
They say it is improving, but still not as mch as they had hoped being that it has been a week since surety. They are continuing on antibiotics and the draining is slowing which is good. He is not happy sin e he has to have a muzzle and cone on most of the day since he was able to et at it with the cone alone. I only have. Plastic muzzle similar to metal ones Herr, bu made of plastic. I left him with just that and no cone yesterday and he was able to chew off the muzzle. He s very determined lol

I wan t get a metal one frm here but I woprobably won't need it by the time it arrives. I got the muzzle on tonight and then he started growling at me when I went to put on the cone. They also have him on a sedative and tramadol for pain now. He is sleeping through the night but is not happy with the muzzle and cone

I will keep you update. Thanks.

Poor little guy... sounds like he is pretty unhappy. Sending healing thoughts his way - and your's too - I know this is stressful on you as well. Hang in there.

Poor Ted, so sorry to hear this news. I hope that he turns the corner soon Keith. I know how stressful it can be when your dog is ill. Hang in there! Thinking of you and sending healing thoughts for Ted!

Keith,
do you know what the cause of the original bump was?

I'm sorry he feels so bad, It was a nightmare after Nico had what was supposed to have been a simple surgery.... simply no fun at all for anyone.

Would the donut collar work better? It's so much less traumatic to many dogs than the rigid Elizabethan collar.