Gus's foot - help - what would you do?

[vinhle68]

Poor little Gus. I am not an expert in anyway so I am truly sorry I can't provide any insight or suggestion but I think if your guts tell you something is not right, I think consulting with a Vet would be the right decision.

Keep us posted and sending hugs and kisses to Gus! and to his Mommy as well.

[Grace'sMom]

Well, it's off to the vet this morning.

Left it uncovered all night. The corner of the bottom pad is puffier. Red line going up is higher.

So will see what the vet says....

[Maidto2Maltese]

Wise decision to have vet see the foot.... doesn't seem 'right' and I'd fear infection 'traveling'.
Praying it's nothing of major concern and will be checking back for your update.

[maltese manica]

I would get to the vets thats not good that it is spreading... please keep us posted Tori!!!

[MoonDog]

Saying a prayer for little Gus.

[maltese manica]

How is Gus doing ??????

[maltese#1fan]

Just checking in to see how Gus is doing.

[michellerobison]

Sounds like blood poisoning from infection. Al had that happen once on antibiotics ,they had to give him a much stronger dose.
I hope he feels better soon.. ♥

[Curious_Ein]

ooooo, just came across this..! I've had a swelling on my cat's paw(she got poked from my cacti thorn- which I ended up tossing afterwards) it was swollen, and vet told me to put a cool icepack covered with towel(so the ice itself doesn't touch skin directly). her paw pads got better, but it took some time to get there(like two weeks) though

Indirect icepack might help with swelling, though extent of swelling/and possible infection Gus might be having now and whether this might help or not.... If it was me, I'd wait for 24 hours if u just started the antibiotics(unless poor Gus seems to be in pain, etc).. and if the swelling gets worse, I'd definitely let the vet's office know.

let us know how Gus is doing!!

[Grace'sMom]

So this will be a little vent as well as an update. Sorry.

We couldn't see our usual vet - she isn't in that early. We also couldn't see our preferred 2nd vet...the owner of the clinic.... because he does surgeries all morning.

So we had to see the other vet in the office who ... I am now sure that I will never let either of my dogs see again. She doesn't like me, doesn't like that we see the vet we do for primary care (our usual vet is a holistic vet - we usually consult with the owner of the clinic if they need something more (like Grace's Ultrasound - he sat in on it with the specialist. He's sat in on all appts about her future surgery. Anyway).... So she doesn't like that we see Dr. Julie as a primary. She doesn't like that we do home cook, that we use herbals instead of things she is more comfortable. She also does not like that I am a proactive and hands on owner.

The "bad foot" started when Gus was bitten by the tick, and I had to tell her what kind of tick it was, and had to ask for antibiotics which she then stated, "Well if he gets tick fever he will have to be treated again anyway!".... But that is another post

I went in with an open mind and told myself maybe the tick incident was just a bad day. Now I know it wasn't.

First she said they had no record that he got antibiotics from them... I told her that Dr. Julie called it into our local pharmacy because it is cheaper. She stated that they have all those medications THERE at the clinic. I just let it go.... What's the big deal where I get the meds from?

Gus has a fever. Which he did not have Friday when he went in. It was 103.8 ... which isn't a high fever, but his normal is 101-101.3 - it has never been higher in his chart.

She took one look at it and said, "I've seen worse. Just give him a benadryl."

This lady's answer to everything we've seen her for has been "Give him benadryl" LOL.... Seriously?

I asked if maybe he needs a different antibiotic? Or perhaps a shot? ... No - give him benadryl.

I said, well, the infection seems to be worse.

"Well, you have him on the Animax (whatever it is -- the antibiotic antifungal cream), you are doing the soaks, you have him on an oral... So....."

"So?"

"So (she shrugs), There's nothing else we can do. Give him benadryl."

She then went on to tell me that letting him lick the paw is what is causing this.

I calmly told her (5 times total by the end of the appointment) that "He is not licking his paw. It is bandaged and he has a cone on"......

So unless my dog has figured out how to rebandage his foot or lick it without getting it wet.... then he is not licking his paw. ( I did not say that to her LOL)

But she just wouldn't let go of that. Just kept telling me to stop letting him lick his paw.

Then she goes on to say that paw licking can create a high for dogs so it becomes behavioral so the next step would be to put Gus on some psychiatric drug..... Yes. She said that.

I just thanked her and we left.

I will email Dr. Julie shortly here and see what she says. We will also keep our appointment for Wednesday morning with her.

I'll be checking his temp twice a day and keep up with the antibiotics.... If his fever goes up we will head to the ER.... This is just crazy.

Benadryl and psych meds.... seriously.

He has a fever.

Even the techs who saw him Friday say his foot is worse... but whatever. Grrrrrr

I don't know what to do. But I've been up since 6, and that is really early for me. So I need to take a nap.