. . . if not earlier.
We’d been taking walks solo this weekend but, thinking Rufus was pretty settled in his crate after his dinner, we took a 40-minute walk together this evening. He hadn’t tried to lick at his wounds since I’d sprayed the bandages with some bitter apple solution, and I thought he was ready to go to sleep when we left.
We came home to find that he’d chewed/licked through his bandages, tore up a bunch of his sutures, and has two gaping wounds in his leg again. We broke out the hydrogen peroxide, cleaned the perimeters of his wounds, and bandaged them (with sterile gauze covers first).
I should’ve tried to put his sweatpant-leg cover on before we left on that walk, but he was already in his crate and that’s the one place where I’m afraid that he’ll panic if I touch his leg wrong, and try to bite me.
I can’t tell you how angry I am at myself right now. I feel like one of us has to keep an eye on him every minute of this process. Also, the knuckles of my left hand are sore because I punched the ceiling out of rage/frustration.
Sorry to be such a downer. We’ll be at the vet’s tomorrow morning, and I’m hoping not to get browbeaten too much. Maybe she’ll have some advice on how to keep the bandages in place (they continually slide down) and how to stop him from chewing through his wounds.
These things happen. Don’t add to your pain by self-flagellating…Yeah, I know…easier said than done. But, like your choice to be happy, this is also a choice.
I’m the queen of s-f, and I can’t actually think of a time that it has done anyone any good.
Hope Ru and his human parents are doing OK…
Thanks. I think I’ve been demolished by the minute-to-minute worries. They make the time seem longer, such that it felt like he’s been recovering longer than he really has. He’s not walking too well this morning, which means either I wrapped his bandages too tightly, or the damage he re-inflicted is kinda painful. I have a feeling it’s the latter, but I’ll be at the vet’s in a few hours to find out.
Gil, Don’t beat yourself up..it’s hard to keep them from going after the bandages. Cali actually ate the bandages twice when she had Happy Tail this past winter (that’s with the Elizabethan Collar on!) What a sight that was, pawing thru dog poop in the snow (using a stick) to make sure she passed the bright blue vet wrap!
I found the best method was to keep the racing muzzle (actually it’s a turn-out muzzle) on her when we weren’t there supervising. We put a piece of duct tape on the bottom of it ( just over the bottom openings) because she found a way to lick with the darn muzzle on. Do you have one of those? I can get you one tomorrow, if you don’t, and want to give it a go. I know it seems mean but it really speeds the healing if they don’t get at it.
I’ve been checking in to see how Ru is and I know it’s tramatic for you and Amy, but please don’t blame yourself. Unfortunately this sort of attack isn’t uncommon. In the past month, we had another grey with the same sort of injury from a dog at the Wantage Dog park. And, sadly, we lost a grey in Warwick when a dog attacked and the poor thing (12 years old) went into shock, and died the next day. It all stems from irresponsible dog owners who let their aggressive breeds off lead or don’t properly fence them.
Please let me know how things are progressing or if there is anything I can help with. You’re all in my prayers.
Jane