Damn it!

Had a great day today (more on that later). Came home tonight around 10pm. Put the kids to bed and then went to feed the dogs. When I turned on the back light, I saw footprints all over the deck. I was hoping that they were wet footprints although I couldn't figure out how Rosie got into water (at 14, she's kind of past playing in her water bucket). Then I realized, they were bloody footprints. We had replaced a plate glass window and the old window had fallen over. Rosie had clearly stepped into the glass, cut her foot, and walked all around. Poor thing.

I fed Gander and brought Rosie up on to the deck. I gathered my major first aid kit out of our 5th Wheel and went to work. Greg held her in a down. I cleaned it with antiseptic wash and checked visually and by prodding for imbedded glass. (I also checked her tongue per Greg's suggestion for lacerations which would indicate glass imbedded in her foot.) Then I slathered it with antiseptic ointment and wrapped it. She's crated now on my back deck with a timer set to check her in an hour. It's a deep cut on her left hind leg. Sort of on the top of the foot which is odd. I cleaned it out good and she had clearly licked it clean as well.

She's 14 years old and we'll all be lucky if she lasts out the year. I NOT putting her through an emergency vet call to stitch it up. I'm not putting us through it either. But, wow. I never expected something like this. Poor baby.

She was so brave. Even when I was prodding, there was not a whimper. Not normal for her. She's normally very vocal about her pain. Poor thing.

Comments

[BEG]

Poor Rosie! Give her some kisses and hugs from me...

[jane]

You shouldn't really need to go that route as long as you cleaned it very well and can keep it clean. One hair in a wound can spur a nasty infection. Make sure to change the bandage every day and clean the wound. Don't use hydrogen peroxide-it tends to do more damage to the healing tissue. Just use saline wound wash and get some vet wrap. You can get it at the feed store if you have one near. It sticks to itself, is not that expensive at the feed store and will keep the wound clean til it heals. (I used to be a vet tech-saw lots of these kinds of wounds)Of course, being a dog person you probably know it as well, just wanted to put in my two cents. Poor poor thing, hope she heals quickly.

[Jo]

Oh no. Poor sweet Rosie. Sending out lots and lots of healing thoughts and good vibes. How are you holding up?

[Liza Lee Miller]

Thanks ALL of you for your concern and suggestions. Her foot is well bandaged and vet wrapped. The first change it all looked good. She's been VERY quiet. Staying down a lot. Very thirsty. Good signs, she was up and eager for dinner last night. Not so great signs, she's not walking around much. She's staying put and resting. When she had her major surgeries after the car accident when she was 5, I had to force her to rest.
I'll keep you posted!