How long to bandage?

[pitbullmamaliz]

Inara tore one of her paw pads pretty well this afternoon. It wasn't bleeding at all, just a decent layer of pad is torn. It was dangling but was too tender for me to try to cut off at that point. I put some Neosporin on it, then a piece of gauze, covered it in vetwrap and then placed a baby sock over it all. She's actually leaving it alone and it's not falling off! Anyway, how long should I keep it wrapped up before changing it or letting it just air out?

[Marinepits]

Since it's not bleeding, take the bandage off tomorrow and let it dry out. It will heal faster dry than moist.

[madremissy]

I got no advice but what Jenifer says sounds good. Good healing thoughts to pretty Inara.

[pitbullmamaliz]

Awesome, thanks Jen! Hopefully I can cut off the flap of skin tomorrow - it has to hurt when it catches on something.

Thanks for the good thoughts, Missy!

It really hasn't seemed to bother her since I wrapped it. She was running around and suddenly started limping really badly. I was afraid she'd torn a ligament or muscle or something, so I was glad it was "just" a paw pad. But since it's been wrapped she's only had a very slight limp.

[Pit♥bull]

Hugs and PBT good thoughts will heal anything

[Malli]

if you have booties you may want to put a booty on it when you walk her so the skin has a chance to heal...

I agree with Jen, its better to have it "breathing" whenever possible...

[pitbullmamaliz]

She was very excited when I removed the bandage this morning and immediately settled down to lick and nibble on it. I do have fleece booties - should I put one on her so she can't reach it, or is it okay to let her handle it on her own? I did put a bootie on when I took her outside - I figured grass poking it may hurt a lot.

[Marinepits]

How does her foot look this morning? Which pad on which foot is it?

I generally let the dogs govern their own pain level on minor injuries, as long as they aren't bleeding. If they're really limping and don't monitor themselves, they get crate rest. I don't use booties, mainly because none of mine like them and tear them right off.

[pitbullmamaliz]

Looks the same as yesterday. There were a couple drops of blood on the bandage when I took it off, and she wouldn't let me clip the extra skin. It doesn't look swollen or icky or oozing or anything. It's the main pad on her right front foot. She wasn't limping much this morning so I'll just let her deal with it. I did give her a baby aspirin with her breakfast (also gave her a couple when we first got home yesterday).

Damned paw pads!

[Marinepits]

Let it dry out, then see how it looks. Inara may chew off the extra skin herself -- Shorty does that and she's always tearing her pads. If she REALLY goes at it and won't leave it alone and it starts to bleed more consistently, then you may want to bandage it up for another day or put an e-collar on her.

Other than that, just keep her off harsh surfaces today and see how she does.

[pitbullmamaliz]

Well she got the extra skin off and seems content to leave it alone now. We won't go for an official walk today so it has time to heal.

Thanks!

[Marinepits]

[amazincc]

Poor baby Inara...

I think a lot of our dogs conspired to makes us worry last week.

[blabsforbullies]

I hope she is feeling better! It can take weeks for pads to heal completely.

[hugapitbull]

Update please! How is she a couple days later?

[pitbullmamaliz]

She's fine - I still put her little bootie on for walks just because I think it would hurt to have the concrete scraping on it. My little Michael Jackson puppy - one glove!

[hugapitbull]

She's fine - I still put her little bootie on for walks just because I think it would hurt to have the concrete scraping on it. My little Michael Jackson puppy - one glove!

I can't tell you how many times Trouble has worn one bootie. Thankfully, she doesn't mind.