Short of gaffer taping the dog's gob.....

elsien

how do I get her to leave her foot alone?
Mum's had her for the last 24 hours while I was at work, and she's somehow taken the skin off the pad on one foot. She has spent the hours since continously licking and chewing it, and it's looking really sore, with more skin coming away the longer she goes at it.
We're off to the vet tomorrow pm, but she'll be on her own most of the day while I'm at work, and I dread to think the state it'll be in by the time I get home (there is absolutely no chance of getting time off work to go, and I start work at 7 am, before they open).
The sock I put over it lasted a millisecond. She's leaving it alone when she knows I'm watching, but the minute I look away that's it.
I'm also a bit concerned that due to problems with a previous foot injury that went manky ( hence the massive buster collar photos on a previous thread) she's not going to tolerate any sort of dressing or covering on it, when I get to the vets. (She got quite distressed and mum was scared to look after her because the dog was getting in such a state mum was worried about getting bitten.)
Short of large quantities of tranquilisers for the both of us, I'm totally stumped.
Any ideas, folks?

orlao

I'm sorry to say this but the only thing that I've found that works to keep them off foot injuries is a buster collar....but there are more comfortsble ones available (if only I could remember the brand name)

Maybe a anti nail biting coating? But that depends on why she is chewing her foot of course!

Sorry I can't be more help!

elsien

Thanks - it's a thought for once the dressing is on (if needed), but as I can't get to the shops tonight she's going to have 3 legs and a stump by tomorrow afternoon the way she's going.

Penny_Watcher

Idiot Dog had stitches in his foot a couple of years ago and a Buster was the only thing that kept him away from it. He had a bandage with a child's sock over the top for in the house and then something the vet cobbled together from a IV drip bag and string to make a drawstring welly for when he was outside.

Can your mum take her to the vets before you get home from work? Is she insured and if so is their an emergency vets open this evening? We had to pay about £80 for an 'out of hours' appointment once :eek:.

elsien

No, mum's working as well, unfortunately, and I can't ask any friends/neighbours as they're all petrified of her. Mutt is insured but the excess is £120 plus 20% of the bill so is unlikely to cover the appointment, and I don't think the vet would be too impressed with an emergency call out for a sore foot.

I just keep thinking what a nightmare it was the last time round - even with the largest size buster collar she kept managing to get to the wound. We were in the vet's every day ( twice some days) getting rebandaged - the nurses were hiding as we came in the door.

Looks like the gaffer tape it is then.

foreign_correspondent

no ideas... sorry elsien - is it a front paw or back?

aliasojo

Don't know if this is of any use?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/470201/protective_inflatable_collars_for_pets.html

foreign_correspondent

yeah - I wondered that too - I think they are called comfycollars?

elsien

Front paw - she's currently alternating between the paw and the knee joint on the other front leg which I think is developing lick dermatitis again. I suppose at least it means I'm going to get my money's worth from the consultation.
I'll bear the comfy collar in mind though for future reference. Thanks all - bit of a forlorn hope that I could stop her nibbling.

dieselhead

I'm not a dog owner so this may be no help, but could you put a muzzle on her?

remembered_nights

There's a spray you can get that's to stop chewing that self-harms i.e. is safe to be licked and safe to on the fur... but tastes awful.

Look up 'Chew Deterrent Trigger Spray by Shaws' (I found it at petsathome.co.uk)