- Joined
- May 24, 2021
- Messages
- 11
1. Sparkly Pearl
2. 6 years old
3. Female
4. Intact
5. Yorkie
6. 7lbs
7. BEAM 7
8. Viva Raw or Mostly Raw beef and rabbit with beans, F & V. Normally no birds or Liver (allergic)
9. 1st Rabies shot only. Recent surgeries where she was given all the medication during surgery and some antibiotics afterward.
10. Primary problem: She was attacked by a big dog on 8 March and had surgery on both legs to prepare the muscle and connective tissue. 15 March she had orthopedic surgery to repair the L complete femur fracture. 25 April she had a second/repeated orthopedic surgery to prepare the same L fracture as the entire repair, hardware and all, bent and broke. Many x-rays.
Her left incision healed well after the first tissue repair, and seems to be healing well now.
Her right leg, which was more badly shredded, has had its series of healing crisis and probable minor infection, which seems to be cleared. Although there is no heat or infection symptoms present, she continues to become intermittently sensitive to the area. A few weeks into healing from the initial tissue repair, the R leg developed what looks like a blister. It is clear fluid filled. It was very sensitive at first but has calmed down to mild sensitivity. Along the rest of the incision it is bumpy and rough from scar tissue healing where it was shredded. Portions of this area become sensitive at times and then seem to calm down. Most recently the area above and below the scar, not the scar itself, has begin to harden/tighten/inflame. It is noticeably swollen and sensitive to touch. Not hot or red. So she has this blister thing that has been sitting there mostly unchanged for a month (although it started sensitive, painful and hot, but has calmed down and remained just a blister for weeks/month) and now this new swollen area near it, at the other end of the scar.
Oh, and all the hair fell off that area. I think along with dead/grey skin. It didn't smell.
11. What makes it better or worse: (Other than epsom compresses described below) Licking or touching it makes it more sensitive, otherwise, nothing really.
12. No specific diagnostic work has been done, but the vets I take her to for her surgery look at it each time and just say to continue compressing it. They did once poke it and claw fluid came out. In the beginning, before it really grew, I saw clear fluid seeping from the new scar. The vets guess that it is an reaction to the dissolving sutures that are still in there.
13. Current and previous treatment: In the beginning I was using warm epsom compresses 3-4 times a day and that is what initially calmed it down. Since it has remained the same for weeks, I am less diligent about it but I warm compress it at least once a day, often 2 or more. This does seem to calm it down, but at this point the difference it makes is helpful, but not enough (unless I am being impatient. If I am being impatient I am willing to hear that and be more diligent about it). The difference it makes seems to be like 10%. I have tried various herbal and homeopathic anti-inflammatory gels and creams. It might make the skin look healthier but it doesn't affect the overall situation.
Wait... I did use floras one cream once that my roommate gave me to try. I hope that's not bad... It seemed to activate the area. I don't know if it was in a good or bad way. Not more infection or anything, maybe in the same way cayenne would bring heat to the skin. Something like that. then it calmed down to "normal" meaning it just sits there as a blister.
14. Other health concerns: Liver and bird skin "allergies" that cause (probably inflammation) snorting and snoring, yeast and grey skin. I have recently been feeding them Viva raw, only to realize it has liver in it and she has been experiencing these symptoms mildly. It did occur to me that the scar inflammation could be related to the food. But the blister was there before (it could have been caused by food/medications early on in the process but if so, the blister seems to be a residual symptom that isn't clearing, while the new inflammation is new. Totally related but also different. But probably the same
Curiously, that is the same spot, or very close to where she received her baby rabies shot, which I believe initially gave her the black skin, allergies and hair loss in the same area (which grew back by age 3).
So, should I be patient and continue to hot compress it and allow her body to do what it does? Or is there any other way I can support her? I have a bandage change appointment on Monday so they will let me know if something needs addressed from their perspective but obviously, that isn't quite my concern at this point.
The pictures are at various stages.
Thank you for your help! <3
Adrienne
P.S. Does anyone know off the top of their head of a really good raw food without liver or birds? I usually make it myself but this is backup for travel or when I am inconsistent.
@Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina @Dr. Sara
2. 6 years old
3. Female
4. Intact
5. Yorkie
6. 7lbs
7. BEAM 7
8. Viva Raw or Mostly Raw beef and rabbit with beans, F & V. Normally no birds or Liver (allergic)
9. 1st Rabies shot only. Recent surgeries where she was given all the medication during surgery and some antibiotics afterward.
10. Primary problem: She was attacked by a big dog on 8 March and had surgery on both legs to prepare the muscle and connective tissue. 15 March she had orthopedic surgery to repair the L complete femur fracture. 25 April she had a second/repeated orthopedic surgery to prepare the same L fracture as the entire repair, hardware and all, bent and broke. Many x-rays.
Her left incision healed well after the first tissue repair, and seems to be healing well now.
Her right leg, which was more badly shredded, has had its series of healing crisis and probable minor infection, which seems to be cleared. Although there is no heat or infection symptoms present, she continues to become intermittently sensitive to the area. A few weeks into healing from the initial tissue repair, the R leg developed what looks like a blister. It is clear fluid filled. It was very sensitive at first but has calmed down to mild sensitivity. Along the rest of the incision it is bumpy and rough from scar tissue healing where it was shredded. Portions of this area become sensitive at times and then seem to calm down. Most recently the area above and below the scar, not the scar itself, has begin to harden/tighten/inflame. It is noticeably swollen and sensitive to touch. Not hot or red. So she has this blister thing that has been sitting there mostly unchanged for a month (although it started sensitive, painful and hot, but has calmed down and remained just a blister for weeks/month) and now this new swollen area near it, at the other end of the scar.
Oh, and all the hair fell off that area. I think along with dead/grey skin. It didn't smell.
11. What makes it better or worse: (Other than epsom compresses described below) Licking or touching it makes it more sensitive, otherwise, nothing really.
12. No specific diagnostic work has been done, but the vets I take her to for her surgery look at it each time and just say to continue compressing it. They did once poke it and claw fluid came out. In the beginning, before it really grew, I saw clear fluid seeping from the new scar. The vets guess that it is an reaction to the dissolving sutures that are still in there.
13. Current and previous treatment: In the beginning I was using warm epsom compresses 3-4 times a day and that is what initially calmed it down. Since it has remained the same for weeks, I am less diligent about it but I warm compress it at least once a day, often 2 or more. This does seem to calm it down, but at this point the difference it makes is helpful, but not enough (unless I am being impatient. If I am being impatient I am willing to hear that and be more diligent about it). The difference it makes seems to be like 10%. I have tried various herbal and homeopathic anti-inflammatory gels and creams. It might make the skin look healthier but it doesn't affect the overall situation.
Wait... I did use floras one cream once that my roommate gave me to try. I hope that's not bad... It seemed to activate the area. I don't know if it was in a good or bad way. Not more infection or anything, maybe in the same way cayenne would bring heat to the skin. Something like that. then it calmed down to "normal" meaning it just sits there as a blister.
14. Other health concerns: Liver and bird skin "allergies" that cause (probably inflammation) snorting and snoring, yeast and grey skin. I have recently been feeding them Viva raw, only to realize it has liver in it and she has been experiencing these symptoms mildly. It did occur to me that the scar inflammation could be related to the food. But the blister was there before (it could have been caused by food/medications early on in the process but if so, the blister seems to be a residual symptom that isn't clearing, while the new inflammation is new. Totally related but also different. But probably the same
Curiously, that is the same spot, or very close to where she received her baby rabies shot, which I believe initially gave her the black skin, allergies and hair loss in the same area (which grew back by age 3).
So, should I be patient and continue to hot compress it and allow her body to do what it does? Or is there any other way I can support her? I have a bandage change appointment on Monday so they will let me know if something needs addressed from their perspective but obviously, that isn't quite my concern at this point.
The pictures are at various stages.
Thank you for your help! <3
Adrienne
P.S. Does anyone know off the top of their head of a really good raw food without liver or birds? I usually make it myself but this is backup for travel or when I am inconsistent.
@Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina @Dr. Sara
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