Merlin hurt

[Kelsey]

Poor Merlin, hope that paw heals up quick!

I would get the scan done and see a specialist too, then you know one way or the other.

Merlin is very lucky to have you both as parents?

 

[MellowYellow]

Poor Merlin dopey again and yet more worry for you. Has your vet told you to bathe the abcess and keep it open so it heels from the inside out rather than scabbing over ? Murphy (my old lab) developed an abscess above his tail due to a puncture wound from next doors alsation which I hadn't seen happen. The puncture wound must have scabbed over trapping germs in so causing the abscess. The vet told me to use hibiscrub rather than salt and water so the abscess didn't scab over to allow it to drain and not trap germs.

No, the vet actually said we should leave the paw alone as far as possible. Obviously, if it gets wet or dirty we should wash it off, but he said just in boiled and cooled water, not hibiscrub. I guess since it's in the paw, the abscess is likely to drain of its own accord.

 

[Charlie]

Poor little man cuddles from us Merlin xx

 

[Jacqui-S]

Ouchy!
Poor Merlin, that does look sore.
Hope it heals up quickly Karen x

 

[Oberon]

Not great but not the worst news! The abscess could have been forming for a while, or the offending item (whatever it was) there for a while. Hope it heals up quickly!

Obi got an infected foot due to a puncture of some kind but we never found the object, though the Vet could see that it had gone right into his foot (he had to have a little exploratory op too).

Def good idea to see the specialist though as you will get such valuable information.

 

[Lisa]

Poor boy! Hope it heals with no fuss and bother.

 

[Xena Dog Princess]

Oh poor sausage, look at that swollen paw/leg. I hope it heals fast.

 

[MellowYellow]

Not great but not the worst news! The abscess could have been forming for a while, or the offending item (whatever it was) there for a while. Hope it heals up quickly!

Obi got an infected foot due to a puncture of some kind but we never found the object, though the Vet could see that it had gone right into his foot (he had to have a little exploratory op too).

Def good idea to see the specialist though as you will get such valuable information.

Oh poor Obi! Can you remember how long it took to heal up??

Merlin's paw is still swollen, though it has stopped dripping. It still doesn't smell great though... He's not putting any weight on it, though he seems more cheerful in himself. Very waggy tail, very keen to eat his breakfast... We're here till Friday morning, so we've just agreed that we'll see how it goes today and if there is no improvement by tomorrow morning than we'll take him back to the vet. Friday we are driving back to my mum's, and then on Sunday back to Germany...

 

[Heidrun]

Poor Merlin! An abscess can be such a nightmare. Alice had one in her throat a few years ago and I am still haunted by the massive hole it caused at the time, which eventually healed up completely. Hopefully the antibiotics will do the trick. Get well soon Merlin!

 

[edzbird]

Get well soon Merlin - good that you've discovered what is causing his limp & it's not joint related,

 

[M.F.]

I came back to find your thread to post about a very funny story I just read in fb group I belong to of a thorn in a paw as a similar case that would hopefully be what turns out for Merlin. But now I see that poor Merlin has an abscess and a swollen paw. So sorry that you’re having all this worry, and it’s your holiday.

The story is about a Golden with a limp. Took meds, limp disappeared. Then a few weeks later the limp came back big time. Golden had an x-ray this time at great expense. Nothing found. So they shaved the paw and inspected under a magnifying glass and found a thorn the size of a pin head. Problem solved.

Best of luck and wishing Merlin a speedy recovery.

 

[MellowYellow]

Yes, that could be the sort of thing!!! A thorn the size of a pin head! That would be Merly-Perly all right...

He's starting to feel better. Foot is less swollen, and no more pus coming out. It doesn't stink so much, either... But he still can't put weight on his foot. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better...

 

[Jacqui-S]

A thorn the size of a pin head!

Is he a "princess and a pea" kind of chap??

But he still can't put weight on his foot

The beginning of that sentence was sounding good. Really do hope he is a bit better tomorrow.

 

[Oberon]

I think Obi’s foot took a few weeks to heal up... The biggest challenge was preventing him from licking and chewing at it. That and keeping it dry....(the best thing for it was to leave it uncovered and keeping it dry, I recall). It made Obi quite depressed as it was so painful. But it was all good in the end

 

[MellowYellow]

He's feeling so much better today! He still walks on three legs most of the time, but is using his foot to balance and is starting to use it to walk, too! I am so relieved!!!



We went back to the vet's this afternoon; he was happy with the way things are going. So now we have to keep the paw as clean as possible (flushing out with boiled, cooled water after each walk), and continuing with the antibiotics.

They never found what caused the infection, and this is apparently the danger - once the antibiotics are finished, if there is still a foreign body in there, the infection may flare up again, which would require more investigative surgery... But right now I am just thrilled he is feeling better and back on four feet again.

I haven't used the cone on him; he's been sleeping next to our bed so we can hear if there is any slurping or licking. Naturally, we are a little tired....

 

[Charlie]

Glad Merlin is a little happier, his foot looks less swollen. Hope he continues to improve. Lovely boy xxx

 

[Jacqui-S]

Really hope its going to settle properly.
Fingers still crossed for you

 

[Lab_adore]

So glad to hear it

 

[Joy]

Glad things seem to be slowly improving with Merlin's paw. I hope he continues to recover well.

 

[Oberon]

Good news!

Now leave that foot alone, Mr Merlin