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

[Grace'sMom]

Okay guys... Need a little help here. Some "clear head" kind of thinking .....So I'm asking here what you would do:

I just took the bandage off Gus's foot.... I do this 3 times a day. But I really only look at it good in the morning and at night.

Took it off and the red is spreading down to his big pad (the center "foot" pad - not the "toe" pads)..... Which the big pad on the end by his dew claw is starting to get puffy.

Then it is going up toward the little pad that's up higher? I don't know the names...sorry. But it's going up and down now...not just his dew claw.

It's not smelly. Not oozing. Not bleeding.

But it's red...and it's puffy.

Do I just take a deep breath and wait until Wednesday and give the antibiotic time to kick in?

Or do I get up at 7am tomorrow and call the vet as we are on our way?

Is this an emergency?

Or do I need to cool my jets and give the Amox a few days?

Thanks....

[Zoe's Mom88]

Tori...when did you start the antibiotic? I would not wait too long. Maybe give the vet a call in the AM and let them know what is happening. Not sure when you started the meds but it would take two days before it kicked in. Hope Gus feels better....poor baby.

[Leila'sMommy]

Redness and swelling like that can indicate infection. He may need a different antibiotic or either it hasn't been enough time for the one he's on to work enough yet. Either way, I would call the vet in the morning. Does he have a fever?


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[wkomorow]

I would try and put an icepack on the area to bring down the swelling, and take him to the vet in the morning. It should not be spreading. Good luck, I hope he feels better.

[Grace'sMom]

We started the Amoxicillin today - so 2 doses. I know it takes 48-72 hours to kick in, which is why I am not sure what to do.

But I will take him in.... My mom looked at it and said he needs to go. It shouldn't be spreading that fast.

So will look at it again in the morning, but will most likely head toward the vet tomorrow morning and call them on the way...

[Zoe's Mom88]

If its speading that quickly I would take him in right away. Hope he feels better.

[jmm]

The bandage may be keeping moisture in creating worse dermatitis. I would leave only a light sock or nothing on the foot, an e-collar to prevent licking, and see how it looks in the morning.

[Summergirl73]

I'd be headed to the Vet. They are the experts in infection control and diagnosis. I wouldn't hesitate on this one as you never know if there is a secondary infection present .

[Grace'sMom]

Originally Posted by jmm

The bandage may be keeping moisture in creating worse dermatitis. I would leave only a light sock or nothing on the foot, an e-collar to prevent licking, and see how it looks in the morning.

Thanks Jamie.

We are leaving it open tonight.

It gets about 4 hours air time.... But will leave it off for the night

Oh... And we are using a cotton gauze not the vet wrap.

[Zoe's Mom88]

Tori, I agree that the air needs to get to it and it shouldn't be covered. I think that is why it seems worse and spreading.