Harley’s nail

[Naya]

I posted on here a few weeks ago about Harley’s nail being split. We gave her antibiotics and it appeared to be healing. She rarely licked it and was able to run around until 3 days ago. I came home from work and it was raw red. We managed to get a vet appointment that day. They said it’s severly inflamed and to use metacam and not let her lick it. We also have to bathe it twice a day and keep it dry. They cut the nail as far as they could. Luckily I’ve had a few days off work so I could monitor her, but it’s been a nightmare. She just won’t stop licking it! I e tried a blow up collar (she worked out a way to still get to her paw), a sock when inside (she licked the sock until it was sopping wet), a boot when outside (especially as it’s been snowing). I have been bathing it, trying to distract her if I see her going to lick it etc. Last night I bandaged it as she just wouldn’t leave it alone. We have to go back to the vets on Tuesday and if it’s still inflamed she will have surgery to remove the nail on Wednesday. I really want to avoid surgery as we have spent so long building up her trust and confidence in going to the vet, I’m afraid it will set her back. Also, my OH will be away all week so it’s just me at home.
Can anyone think of anything else I can try to stop her licking it?

 

[kateincornwall]

I would keep it dressed with a bandage and then lightly spray with a dog safe repellent like bitter apple spray , it might just deter her , good luck xxx

 

[Emily]

Oh I'm sorry to hear, that sounds really nasty.

I know it's not very nice but what about one of those big plastic cones? Elizabethan collar - is that it? Surely that, with Kate's suggestion above would stop her getting to it?

 

[Selina27]

@Naya, sorry to read that Harley is having this problem. I'm sure you do want to avoid surgery for many reasons.

It's not something I've any experience of, but I think Emily's suggestion is a good idea, I'm guessing though it would have to be pretty long to stop her accessing her foot? Is it back or front?

 

[Selina27]

We also have to bathe it twice a day

What do they want you to bath it with?

 

[MellowYellow]

That is horrid. I'm afraid all you can do is stay with her as much as possible and distract her. A sock on her foot will help, and frozen kongs etc to take her mind off it.

Honestly, at this point having the nail removed is probably the best option. It just takes them a moment to pull it out, then it grows back from scratch. The problem with a broken nail is that the break keeps getting aggravated and the split worsened when she walks on it...

 

[Granca]

@Naya, sorry to read that Harley is having this problem. I'm sure you do want to avoid surgery for many reasons.

It's not something I've any experience of, but I think Emily's suggestion is a good idea, I'm guessing though it would have to be pretty long to stop her accessing her foot? Is it back or front?

Or even a plastic cone AND inflatable collar? Which leg is it? Poor Harley and poor you - it's so difficult when you can't explain to them...

 

[Charlie]

So sorry, poor Harley. I think the only way forward with this is a big cone. I use the 'Comfy Cone' it's much softer than the plastic ones. Charlie doesn't mind in the slightest having to wear it. To avoid surgery I would get one today. Hope all will be OK. xxx

 

[kateincornwall]

Millie had a comfy cone after her spay , she didn't mind it at all , in fact she liked the fact that it formed a cushion for her head when she was in her basket . We couldn't buy one small enough for Nelly , so she had a medi vest .
Sam badly smashed up one of his front claws , and had it removed , a nice new one grew very quickly .

 

[Atemas]

one of those big plastic cones

That was the only thing that worked when Red kept licking the shaved area on her leg when she was spayed. Eventually kept it off during the day but wore it to sleep

 

[Naya]

Ive been out to try and find a big head collar but can’t find any comfy ones and even the plastic ones I found were too small for her
It’s her back left paw. They suggested bathing it in warm salt water which I have been doing. I also done it with hibiscrub yesterday before bandaging it.

That is horrid. I'm afraid all you can do is stay with her as much as possible and distract her. A sock on her foot will help, and frozen kongs etc to take her mind off it.

Honestly, at this point having the nail removed is probably the best option. It just takes them a moment to pull it out, then it grows back from scratch. The problem with a broken nail is that the break keeps getting aggravated and the split worsened when she walks on it...

I am starting to think it might be the best option (removing it) as that is what the vet said when I phoned them today to see if they had any other ideas to stop her licking. They said it’s likely she will keep trying to lick until it’s completely healed which could be a month or so . The nail is firmly in so she would need sedating / anaesthetic to be able to remove it.

Thanks for all of your suggestions x

 

[HAH]

Oh @Naya I am sorry - you hope nails will be fairly simple and self-solving don’t you? But I’d be inclined the same as you - take it off to get it done and start the healing process, although I really sympathise with the decision to ‘voluntarily’ sedate, it’s not easy.

 

[Cath]

Ive been out to try and find a big head collar but can’t find any comfy ones and even the plastic ones I found were too small for her

Can't you get one from your vets?

 

[Plum's mum]

Oh poor Harley and poor you @Naya, it sounds so stressful. I’m inclined to agree with Karen and @HAH, as that will probably bring about relief and normality for you all in the quickest time, but I appreciate it’s not me having to make the decision for anaesthesia.

 

[Stacia]

My dog just had his nail pulled off quickly, no anaesthetic and it healed fairly quickly. I don't think I would bathe it in Hibiscrub, just dilute salt water. Poor Harley, hope it gets better very soon.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Lilly was dreadful after her biopsy on her back leg just below her "ankle".
Only thing to keep away from it was a big hard collar.
She enjoyed crashing it into lamp posts when out to try and break it. We had to replace it.

 

[Selina27]

I think perhaps there is a need for someone to make a medisock, like the medivest Cass had post spay. It could be like a stocking that fastens on the neck/shoulder.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Not entirely sure I see this working, but maybe ok for a higher up issue. Saw it on FB yesterday. Not sure how you would stop it "riding up"

 

[Selina27]

I was thinking a properly made thing with a foot, I would think one could be made of the same fabric as the medivest, and have a popper behind the neck.

 

[Jacqui-S]

I was thinking a properly made thing with a foot, I would think one could be made of the same fabric as the medivest, and have a popper behind the neck.

It would be so useful