Gagging, infection on leg.

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Poor sweetheart Snowie, he is such a legend. Even in the photos where you are showing his wounds, he still has the sweetest face.

As you say, aging is horrible. The stress on you is enormous and you are weathering the storm with courage and a huge heart. Try not to add any guilt or second-guessing on top of it all. It’s human nature but you have to know deep down that you always do the best for him and those other feelings are just noise.

The gagging sounds really upsetting, I hope you can get to the bottom of it.

I’m holding on to you saying that you’re still having walks, which is a big deal and really encouraging. He’s still living a good life thanks to your love and care.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Trotted in places, ambled in others, had his regular dip in the lake. Usual sniffing out bits of food dropped by picnickers.

 

[Candy]

Thinking of you and your lovely Snowie. Sending love, and
from Joy and me.xxx

 

[Lab_adore]

I couldn't put it better than @Emily_Babbelhund, sending love and healing thoughts

 

[Kelsey]

Snowie is just the biggest teddy bear He’s very lucky to have you. Sending healing vibes and Hugo gives gentle licks to Snowie!

 

[Loraseal]

I am so sorry to read that Snowie is going through a rough time. It must be really hard for you. We are sending you both lots of love and gentle kisses for your loveable Snowie.

 

[M.F.]

@Jelinga and @MellowYellow I also feel the connection to Rourke and Poppy.

 

[M.F.]

Yesterday we had our weekly checkup. Since coming off the antibiotic last week, the infection has spread up the leg. Our vet says it’s not typical so he really doesn’t have a clear path to take, unsure whether vascular. He took a swab of the new wound on the inside of the leg (it’s slightly higher up than the original wound on the outside of the leg) and it showed a lot of bacteria. He’s sent it away to get cultured so that he can prescribe a targeted antibiotic. Meanwhile, back on antibiotics, this time Doxycycline. Different to the previous one, an old antibiotic that he says Snowie hasn’t had before.

Got a second cytopoint injection. Skin is inflamed, especially on his chest. Vet concerned inflamed skin will make the infection spread more easily. I was worried about cytopoint affecting the body’s ability to fight the current infection. He looked up contraindications and he said there was nothing stated about this. I hope it won’t negatively affect things.

He needle aspirated a new lump behind his right armpit. No cancer. He said if Snowie was 5 years younger, he’d want to remove it and send for pathology. But worse to put Snowie under GA at his age. I was reminded of my father’s favourite saying (well, he had several!): “If you go looking for problems, you’ll find them.” He was a gynaecologist and obstetrician. We never saw doctors as children. He’d probably tell me I’m worrying for nothing. He also used to say: “If you worry, you die. If you don’t worry, you die. So why worry?” Easier said than done!

Thankfully, we all slept SO WELL last night!!!!! I was asleep at around 8pm, I was finished. I don’t think Snowie gagged in the night. Well, I didn’t hear anything. He was happy this morning. He didn’t want an afternoon walk yesterday. My husband got him dressed (socks, collar, harness) but he refused to go out the gate. He had a lovely morning walk, vet visit, then park visit at lunchtime. So he pooed in the garden last night before bed. This morning I discovered a big smelly cow pat. So the vet visit, while he appears happy being there, must’ve taken it out of him, all the needles and swabbing and prodding.

 

[M.F.]

Our Wednesday morning walk with best friend Sunshine, 10 years old. She was born in Thailand, lived her first few years in Laos, then Washington DC, And now retired in Cape Town. She and Carbon would no doubt have lots to discuss about living in different places in the world!

 

[Jennifer]

I do hope the new antibiotics help Snowie and quickly. It’s lovely to see him enjoying his walk in the sunshine with his friend Sunshine

 

[MellowYellow]

So nice to see the photos, thank you for sharing! Hopefully he gets the right antibiotics to clear this up once and for all.

 

[Candy]

Lovely to see Snowy looking better.
I think 'Sunshine ' is such an apt name for a yellow Labrador. Of course I'd have to keep singing to her
'You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine'!

 

[Jacqui-S]

Just catching up @M.F.
So sorry to hear Snowie is not so great.
I hope the vet gets to the bottom of it.
These seniors are a worry.
For what it's worth, honey and no licking would be my approach, but that ulcer doesn't look nice

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Snowie looks so happy n the photos with his buddy sunshine - so nice to see! And a relief for you all to have a good night with no gagging.

Sending all the Lambies that they can find the right antibiotic to target the infection.

 

[M.F.]

Just catching up @M.F.
So sorry to hear Snowie is not so great.
I hope the vet gets to the bottom of it.
These seniors are a worry.
For what it's worth, honey and no licking would be my approach, but that ulcer doesn't look nice

How would you recommend managing the stickiness of the honey? I applied some the other day, but it sticks on everything. And dirt from outside will probably stick to it. The vet said absolutely not to cover the wound, that covering will encourage the bacteria to multiply.

Interestingly, Snowie doesn’t like honey! He won’t lick it off the spoon. He did eventually lick the wound with the honey, I guess it was itchy and irritating. Thankfully since starting the new antibiotics, he hasn’t licked the wound today at all. And no more gagging today, thankfully!!

 

[Jacqui-S]

The vet said absolutely not to cover the wound, that covering will encourage the bacteria to multiply.

I'm not entirely sure I would agree with that.....a dry dressing covered in vet wrap and change it at least daily?
Perhaps nursing advice may be better?

 

[Lab_adore]

Such lovely pics of darling Snowie and his friend; they both look so happy. I hope he continues to improve

 

[M.F.]

I'm not entirely sure I would agree with that.....a dry dressing covered in vet wrap and change it at least daily?
Perhaps nursing advice may be better?

I followed your advice and this evening I put on honey, covered it with a cotton wrap and then vet tape. We went out to my mom’s for dinner and she said please cover the wound when you to come to me! It lasted well, and only towards the end of the evening did he push it down to lick the inner wound. The outer wound is looking nice and pink and filling in.

Unfortunately we don’t have vet nurses. The vet does everything at our practice. He has a partner and they did discuss Snowie’s infection and way forward. He has assistants if he needs help restraining an animal, and they watch the dogs in the cages. But no actual vet nurses.

 

[Boogie]

 

[Stacia]

Unfortunately we don’t have vet nurses. The vet does everything at our practice. He has a partner and they did discuss Snowie’s infection and way forward. He has assistants if he needs help restraining an animal, and they watch the dogs in the cages. But no actual vet nurses.

How strange, I supposed the assistants do the same job as a nurse with limitations.