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Thread: Weeping wound

  1. #1
    Real Retriever Moby and Barley's Mom's Avatar
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    Weeping wound

    Having an old dog is so so hard. There is always something to worry about. Moby (14 in Sept.) had a spindle cell and mast cell tumor removed a year and 1/2 ago. The spindle was on his front leg and there was no way to get clean margins without amputation - which we would not do on an old dog. Now the tumor is back and sort of going up and down in size. No surgery is recommended. It reduced with the prednisone given to him for a different issue - and now I am tapering the prednisone and the tumor is back and now splitting a bit - leaking a watery blood the vet called "serum." The tumor is large and a really weird size. I had been pushing on it to release some of the watery substance (which the vet said was fine) but I can't have him all over without bandaging it somehow. The thing that seemed to work as the best bandage was a mini-pad with surgical tape - but that lasted about 20 minutes. He leaves it alone - does not lick at it - but of course I worry about infection.
    This is such a strange and difficult problem - I just sort of don't know what to do or to make of it and I am trying not to get too upset about it.

    Any suggestions?

    Thank you!
    Forever in my heart - Sweet gentle Moby - lover of belly rubs, bacon, and Barbara 9-10-2001 to 11-2-2015

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Have you tried a gauze pad and vet wrap? The vet wrap seems to last longer than anything else when I have used it. Sending good thoughts for your sweet Moby. It is so hard to watch them age and try to guess exactly how they are feeling and what they need.
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  3. #3
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    I agree with the vet wrap and gauze. You have to watch out as some of the mini pads have fragrance, etc, in them which might irritate the wound. There are gauze pads that are very absorbent and have a no-stick side to them.

    Went through a similar situation with Bandit. I would not put him through the surgery and it would probably involve skin grafts if the vet even thought he could get the entire tumor off his leg. Then chemo and radiation. Too much to ask him to go through at his age.

    Sending prayers for Molly.
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  4. #4
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    CAN you do the gauze and Vet wrap? Jet had a cyst like that, broke open, oozed but it was on her shoulder/chest and practically impossible to keep bandaged. I imagine that, as with Jet, you will have to check the wound every day and redress it. One thing I would try now is a t-shirt. In our case any wrap would have to have been wrapped over her back and around her leg to keep it on. I think a pretty close fitting t-shirt, with arms made smaller so it would fit the legs.

  5. #5
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    I think a minipad or maxi isn't such a bad idea as long as they have no fragrance. It would be more absorbent than plain gauze if it's really weepy. There are also thicker bandaging gauzes but they're fairly large. Like these: Amazon.com: NON21450H - Sterile Abdominal Pads: Industrial Scientific You could check at a local pharmacy, Walgreens or CVS or something. I haven't looked for them but you never know. You could always cut it into more manageable pieces. I agree with trying vet wrap.

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  7. #6
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    Maybe combine a sanitary napkin for absorbency (many military use them in the field for bandaging) but secure it with the vet wrap? Poor baby!
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
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  9. #7
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    When Fran's incision opened up, the vet had us apply silvadene cream because we were going to let it heal by secondary intention (not stitch it back up again). It's an antibacterial goop that is also used on second and third degree burns. We just kind of spread a layer of it over the open wound and it sort of mixed in with the discharge. We couldn't bandage it because it was on her back between her shoulder blades. All good thoughts. I hope you find a solution.

  10. #8
    Real Retriever Moby and Barley's Mom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by POPTOP View Post
    I agree with the vet wrap and gauze. You have to watch out as some of the mini pads have fragrance, etc, in them which might irritate the wound. There are gauze pads that are very absorbent and have a no-stick side to them.

    Went through a similar situation with Bandit. I would not put him through the surgery and it would probably involve skin grafts if the vet even thought he could get the entire tumor off his leg. Then chemo and radiation. Too much to ask him to go through at his age.

    Sending prayers for Molly.
    Can you tell me how long Bandit's wound would weep? Because the tumor is large and soft - it seems to break open any time he tries to play with Barley because it moves around as he "runs" to try to "get him." The membrane around the tumor splits and it starts bleeding again. It is just awful.I have been worried about this since the tumor returned. Thank you!
    Forever in my heart - Sweet gentle Moby - lover of belly rubs, bacon, and Barbara 9-10-2001 to 11-2-2015

  11. #9
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Bandit had a large tumor on the lower leg just above the paw. It was soft tissue, did not involve the bone. It would weep on occasion but not for a long time, sometimes a little bloody. Toward the end, I had to bandage and vet wrap it to protect it when he went outside from rubbing on the ground. It would get little pinhole sores. Luckily it did not weep continuously.

    I'm so sorry about the situation. Maybe the vet can give you some ideas on bandaging it and keeping it clean.
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