Natural wound care? *warning graphic picture*

[Deleted]

Last night I acquired my dad's dog, and he is in pretty rough shape

My dad is currently on a cruise with his new wife for their honeymoon and his senior dog was being looked after by my grandparents, as his bladder isn't too good and he needs to be let out frequently during the day. In hindsight, I really wish I would have taken him though as this would have never happened.

When he went to my grandparents he had a hotspot on his hip, no bigger than a quarter. My dad sent him with a cone and some cream for it.

Unfortunately my grandparents kept taking the cone off and Shadow (the dog) kept licking. What started out as a tiny harmless hotspot has now turned into a basketball size infected wound.

He has been to a vet and is on strong antibiotics and painkillers, as well as an ointment to keep the wound moist. I am also washing it twice a day with warm water (going to start adding a little salt to make it a saline solution) and some iodine and applying polysporin.

I'm just wondering if there's anything else I can put on it that would help speed the healing?

Colloidal silver comes to mind, would this work?

Is there anything else that might help?

This poor dog. Ugh it is so awful.

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[Deleted]

In my experience the less you mess with it the better. Add salt sea salt if you can to the warm water that's what I would do. Apart from that keep his mouth away from it, your doing a good thing and a fine job

[Sherry]

Colloidal solve twice a day will definitely help. Apply topically as well as adding some to his food to help strengthen his immune system.

[Deleted]

Thank you I don't suppose you know where I can find some Sherry? Just any drug store? Or do I have to go somewhere special?

[Sherry]

www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=silver-makes-antibiotics-thousands-of-times-more-effective

And Tail Blazer's

[Deleted]

Besides putting the cone back on the dog and leaving it there a couple things come to mind for me regarding wound care. I would stop using iodine, while iodine is a great topical antiseptic for unbroken skin - it literally kills new skin, it burns too so the dog is even MORE inclined to lick or rub the wound.

I understand the desire to create a saline solution for ablution (washing), but salting a wound HURTS, even if it is saline. You'd be better off simply using distilled water to gently dab the wound.

I would suggest using sulfur powder on the wound after washing. Sulfur will actually nourish the skin cells and they will regenerate faster. If there is ANY foul odor emanating from the wound get the animal to a vet immediately! These kind of wounds can go gangrenous! Do NOT stop the antibiotic treatments - administer the FULL regimen and continue if needed if the wound is not healing.

If the wound is weeping, continue with the gentle washing and apply the sulfur powder. You may consider clipping then shaving an area around the wound and applying a non-stick wound patch or band-aid which will protect the house furnishings from the seepage and help keep dirt out of the wound.

When the wound stops weeping and scabs over or starts to crust at the edges then apply a lanolin based ointment - my favorite is "Corona" ointment.- Always available at any feed or tack store. Lanolin is made from sheep's wool fat, is natural and will help nourish the skin cells too. Do not stop your attentions to the wound until you see the skin completely covering the spot and the fur regrowing!

It helps too, to discover the reason the spot got started. If because of a flea issue - get that stopped, if simply a scratch or abrasion from rough play, that will resolve itself.

Bump up the animal's zinc, calcium, vitamin D and E, selenium and magnesium and protein intake to help it generate skin faster.

Good luck!