moosepup

I have PM'd you.

Just had a chat with his previous vet to explain why I was leaving to see another vet and she seemed pretty disappointed (me has guilt attack!! ). I think maybe she was upset that I didn't discuss it with her first but at the end of the day I need to do what I feel is best for my boy and see a vet that makes me feel confident as well. I wouldn't hesitate to continue taking Zoe to her for her health issues and she has been brilliant with that. Hope she doesn't take this situation out on her! Dog I feel like poop!

She's happy for me to bring him in but it's my responsibility to sneak him past security in the mornings (they drive around patrolling the car park) and make sure he's not caught whilst out doing his business :D. He's so small though I'll just be like "Dog? What dog???". It's looking pretty good this morning, a lot of the dead skin has come off, just leaving that larger blister which I think goes deeper than the surrounding area. I know he has been licking it during the night (naughty me ) so he will be sleeping with his bucket on from now on. Surprised that the Dermaclens has worked so quickly but it seems like the right stuff.

Oh my gosh GreyGirl!!!! That is terrible!!!!! I can't believe that this seems to be somewhat a common occurence. Moose's burn is approximately the size of a golf ball (and a half). But I guess because of his size it could be in comparison to your girls. You can see the size of it on him in this pic.... (snoozing under my desk at work). Don't know if you can see him there amongst the rabbit, monkey, donut, kong, etc, etc. Haha tell me about it! Fingers crossed Moose won't need surgery on his burn because I know I will be sitting around that day having palpitations. I wonder if they will let us supervise any future ops?? GG, went to PetStock today and bought some Dr B's Health Booster. I put just less than half a teaspoon (he only gets about 80-100g of food) on his dinner tonight and he chowed it down. Hope it helps his system cope a bit better! Thanks for putting me onto it. :rofl: I bought the 500g container and I think it's going to last me a loooooooong time haha. Will definitely be keeping a photo diary of his progress and will put a letter together for the previous vet. I feel bad about leaving the vet that has been treating his burn (not the same one that did his surgery but same clinic) but I need to keep reminding myself that it's what is best for Moose not my worry about hurting someones feelings. I will mention in the letter that she has been great to him but I feel that the new vet has more expertise. Does, doesn't it???? Poor girl. Moose doesn't seem to have any pain associated with his (strange dog). I can poke and prod and he doesn't flinch. This may all change when the raw skin is out in the open though. Your girl's burn very sensitive GreyGirl? Can I just say again how priceless all your help has been everybody. I think I would just be a heap on the floor if I didn't have you guys to talk/vent/share with and give me tips and advice. Thanks a ton. Erin

Hi guys, thanks so much for your help and support, I'm feeling much better today!! I took Moose to another vet today for a second opinion and he was great. Whilst he isn't a speciailist, he does have a background and interest in dermatology. He was very informative and knowledgable (has treated burns worse than Moose's) and just made me feel at ease. He said that he didn't think it was necessary to refer me onto a skin specialist at this stage and we will see how it goes. I also appreciated that this clinic even made sure that I saw him as he had the most expertise in this area when all I told them was that I wanted a 2nd opinion on a burn. Another vet even came out and apologised to me for the wait but said it was best that I waited to see him specifically!! He did a thorough exam of his wound, checked his heart and temp and checked out the photos I took in of the burn, starting from day 1. Based on all this he has put him back on AB's for 2 weeks and given me some Dermaclens cream to put on the wound once a day, and also told me to continue with the silver cream once a day. I'm to stop washing it with salt water as this will just keep the burn moist when we really want to dry it out. He said the cream will help to remove the necrotic tissue and start healing the raw bits. He is hopeful that surgery will not be neccessary but said if the large blister area doesn't come away fully they may do a minor surgery to lift it off. I take him back in 2 weeks for a checkup unless I'm concerned about anything before then. So far so good, such a load off my mind! I'm not too sure what to do about the previous vet.... the vet that has been looking after his burn has been very good but I just feel this new vet knew more about treating burns and was a lot more informative about the road ahead. I'm not very confrontational so don't know how I would go about asking them to pay for his continuing treatment. Maybe I should just grin and bear it and be comfortable with the knowledge that he is now in good hands. Also, the boss is fine with me taking him into work! I took him in on Tuesday and he was a big hit, won over the ladies!! I will take him whenever I can and leave him at home with his bucket on when I can't. Oh, and the vet seemed to think that it was a HWB burn, like Beau's burn. See what you mean about the green bit, definitely doesn't look as bad today, that last photo was actually pretty gruesome, doesn't look quite so bad in the flesh! Back on the AB's as of today. He is fed a raw diet (Dr B's BARF patties) and I will look into the Health Booster, thanks. ;) He is 7 months old (as of yesterday).

Lol, me too!! There is a referral clinic that we've taken our other dog Zoe to for her eyes and I think they also had a skin specialist. There is also Murdoch Vet Hospital but can only see info about a dermatologist on their site. I will suss it out. Thanks again for all your help and support.

Thank you redarachnid, I think you're right. When I take him back on Saturday I will ask her to refer me onto a specialist. In the meantime I think I will take him to another vet for a second opinion. Just a quick question... is a dermatologist the person I should be seeing?? Or a burns specialist? I just need to say, this whole thing downright SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiya goldengirl, Vet has not given me any advice regarding dressings except to keep bathing it with salt water and apply some silver burn cream, which I purchased at the very beginning before we knew exactly what was going on. So far it hasn't been costing me but if it does I will definitely be raising this with the vet. Should his wound be covered in a dressing?? The skin is definitely starting to come away and there is a bit of green slimy pus but it doesn't smell either. There is raw pink skin around the edges which I'm presuming is a good thing as it's starting to heal as it comes away. The vet also hasn't mentioned anything about him requiring surgery... do you think this is a real possibility??? All she has said is that he may be left with a small scar once the healing is complete. I wish I knew all the questions to ask. All these posts are making me feel like I should really be seeking a second opinion... I feel sick. Here is his burn today....

Oh dear, that sounds terrible!! I feel kinda lucky now that his "burn" is more localised. It hasn't grown any bigger since last weekend and has definite edges so I think (hope!) that this is the extent of it. He was given an anti-inflammatory injection in that spot so it could be as you say and not a reaction to the drug but more infection at the site. All I know is that it is a strange looking "burn" and I've never seen anything like it. Maybe I need to get a second opinion? Do you know how well that dog's wounds healed or what treatment was prescribed? Also, no the vet is not charging me for the weekly consults.

My pup was desexed 3 weeks ago and didn't give 2 stuffs about his 1 stitch (small balls!). He was humping again within 48 hours so that was more of a concern! Thought he'd pop his stitch. I have had to use a collar on him though to stop licking at his burn. He doesn't care at all when it's on and still runs around like a fool and can still eat and drink. My worry is having to leave it on him when I'm at work and he's unsupervised. I'm scared he will get stuck or the tie will tighten or something... worry wart!

Very strange cashew, Moose's is leathery in that one large spot and then the skin around it is black but feels normal (hard to explain because the picture doesn't actually show it very well). And yes it doesn't seem to bother him much at all! He cried out last night but I think I might have picked him up awkwardly and stretched that spot. Other than that he's showed no signs of pain or discomfort. The vet has told me to watch out for pus and/or foul smells coming from the wound and will take him straight in if it occurs. He has been off the antibiotics for a week (she didn't want him building up a resistance) and so far it's been okay but I'll be watching it like a hawk. I will be so glad once it's healed and this is all over. My anxiety levels have been through the roof!

He doesn't lick it excessively, I would say I've seen him at it only a couple of times. I think it's more that he likes licking the salt off it (I bathe it with salt water 2 -3 times a day) rather than licking the actual wound itself. I think the licking is lifting the scab though (not sure if this is good or bad!!).

Yep when I took him in last week I mentioned that I thought the edge of the burn was actually further out (where he still had fur) because the skin felt "hard" so she shaved him a bit more so you could see all the edges. He also has another patch just above this but looks only superficial, not as bad as the major site. Sigh! I wonder if I can negotiate with the boss about taking him to work with me!

Here's Moose's burn 3 weeks on... Just thought I'd post the occasional update so that anyone that ever (hopefully never!) experiences a burn on their dog can see how it progresses. I could find barely anything about it on the internet myself so maybe this will be useful for somebody. Vet is seeing him every Saturday to see how it is coming along. I think it's slowly starting to get "better" in that you can now see some raw skin around the edges where the skin is coming away. I'm having a bit of a dilemma in that I don't want him licking it but nor do I feel comfortable leaving him at home with the bucket on during the day unsupervised. Anyone have any issues with leaving the bucket on their dog when they're alone????

Wow, what a beaut idea I think I might have to treat myself to one soon!

I was having this issue with cats pooping and peeing in a little sandpit we had (leftover from a hot water system removal). Moose loved bringing in the clumps of sand that reeked. Bricking up the sand pit has stopped the poo but I don't want cats in my yard at all. I think one of them attacked Zoe which left her with a perforated lens. I also get woken up by a vicious cat fight outside my window at least once a month. Grrrr so not a cat lover. It's so wrong that people are allowed to let their cats roam free to do as they please to the detriment of other pet owners and wildlife.

I can relate, my pup cries when I try and do his nails which makes me cry and we both need some alone time afterwards.

I wouldn't mind starting our older dog (10 years) on Joint Guard. She did have one of her cruciate ligaments repaired many many years ago and she tends to be a little stiff after she's been lying down awhile. Are there any negatives to giving Joint Guard?? She has had immune & liver issues in the past. I will discuss it with the vet this weekend but just curious if anyone knows.

Sounds like you have moved heaven and earth to help your boy! Hope he keeps getting better and the results are good. Keep us posted on his progress. And of course... pics!!

Good luck at the vet esky, hopefully it's nothing serious. It's difficult when our dogs get just a general malaise because they can't tell you how they feel, you just know that they are feeling off. 8 years of being fed frankfurts... people amaze me! Luckily she has found you.

Very happily I bet!

I bet she's really concerned about that!! I just don't get what would be tasty about a snail???

Hope he's okay Kingbob, I'd ring the vet just to make sure. If anything, he'll sleep well tonight after the sugar crash!

My pup likes snails too (shells mostly). Dogs are gross. As far as I'm aware (but I'm no expert), it's okay as long as you don't have any snail bait around that they may have eaten. I'm like you though, if I see he has one I take it away and bin it. ETA - I'd be concerned that they may be a choking hazard as well.

Hi cashew, Sounds exactly like what is going on with my boy. How long did it take to heal? Was your girl left with a scar after healing?