can i put human cream on a doggy's paw?

[crisgal]

my little dog has a sore on his foot. I think he got a little nick when he was gromed three weeks ago. Anyway, since then he won't leave it alone - licking and biting it, and now he's made it much worse.
I thought I'd put a little sock on it with a bandage over to try and stop the itch - scratch cycle. I wondered if I should put something on it first. Savlon or something. Or is that a big no no?

[demondragon]

did u thought bout taking ur dog to the vet?

[lankeela]

Better to leave it open to heal up - you could try bathing it in warm salt water.

If it doesn't heal soon then take him to the vets - he may have got a thorn in it.

Savlon would be ok, but creams tend to cover over the wound and not let the air into it.

[scubadiver]

Sudocream, which is used for amongst other things-nappy rash, is excellent for this type of use in animals.

We call it "magic cream"- any time either of our two dogs is licking at a cut or sore on their paw or leg, we check to see if there is anything serious that is visible and then we stick some Sudocream on it. As if by magic, they stop licking at it.
Brilliant stuff.

[Kimmiebear]

Make sure you wash it well once a day and dry it. If it is just the irritation from him licking a sock would suffice and it will heal up on its own without needing any cream. If it starts to smell bad or become swollen then he needs to go to the vet. If he is really furry around it that will increase the chances of an infection because it will hold the moisture and bacteria in. If he isn't all that furry then make sure it is dry and cover it with a sock. Polysporin is ok once to twice a day in small amounts but if he is licking at it then you don't want him to lick up the cream. A nice dry sock taped on should be good as long as it os changed regularly (once to twice a day) and immediately if it is damp.

[crisgal]

thanks everyone. It's not swollen and he is furry - he's a bichon!
i will bathe it, dry it and go for the sock option and monitor closely.
If that doesn't work, i'll do the sudocrem thing.
For demondragon: of course i would take him to a vet if i had any money. i wouldn't be asking on here if i had that option. Sadly, I don't.

[divegirl]

Hi, Just one question, you say you think he got it when he was groomed, was this a professional grooming? If so, if you can afford that, you should be able to afford a vet.....not saying that this ailment needs a vet, but you must get your priorities right. As for creams, go to the pet shop and buy a cream specificly for dogs.

Lisa x

[lankeela]

Quite agree with divegirl. Veterinary treatment is a basic requirement of owning a dog. There are several options depending on where you live. The PDSA have subsidised clinics as do the RSPCA.

However, a visit to the vet to find out what the problem is would probably cost no more than a session at the grooming parlour, and is far more important. Why did you buy dog that needs regular grooming if you can't even afford a visit to a vet?

[crisgal]

i can't believe this! How come I'm being attacked in this way? Our dog is eight years old and has to be groomed regularly as his woolly coat gets so matted.
Now that you've all jumped to conclusions, i feel i need to explain my "priorities"
The first priority of me and my husband is feeding our three children and keeping them warm.
we both work hard (I have 3 part time jobs) and love our little dog very much - as do the children.
When we got him, I was a full time teacher and my husband was a company director. We certainly didn't choose a bichon lightly and were fully aware of the costs involved.
My husband was made redundant and was out of work for two years and I had a (unplanned) baby. I have taken the three jobs as it means I can spend time with my youngest child until he starts school.
My husband and I are always tired, hardly see each other and have no social life.
my mum paid for the last grooming session and I was told off by the groomer for leaving him so long.
I asked the question on a friday as i wanted to help him over the weekend.
If anyone's interested, his toe's a lot better today.

[kita1]

Just a thought, if money is that tight, (you may not like this suggestion) what about cutting the coat really short? This would allow you to brush him on your own and stop his coat from getting matted, it would also cut out the grooming bills. He would not look like a bichon of course but looks are not everything!

As regards the foot, if he really did get it at the groomers then they should have told you that they had caught his foot, but maybe they were too busy telling you off.

If it does not swell up or become worse then it will probably heal OK on its own. It is difficult to bandage a dogs foot (and get the bandage to stay on). You are better off leaving it to the open air to dry up, if you put the sock on too tight you risk cutting off the blood supply to the foot, causing more problems (and more vets bills!).

Most things will heal naturally, in a normal healthy dog, without a visit to the vet. IF a cut becomes infected then obviously a visit to the vet is called for, in order to get antibiotics.

The scheme with the PDSA is only with nominated vets and only for people in receipt of Council Tax Benefit. Other benefits are not applicable.

Good luck with your little bichon, please do not be put off asking for help, until your last answer your situation was not clear.

[crisgal]

thanks kita 1, those other answers have really upset me!
I do have him cut short, he's not at all "crufts"! He looks like a curly teddy bear! His coat grows so quickly though!

If I thought for one minute that he needed the vet, I would take him, even without any money.
The thought that strangers could be so judgemental, has shocked me. I wouldn't dare be so presumptious.

He's kept his little sock on ok, and it's looking much better now. I think he just needed to leave it alone!

[leelapops]

hey crisgal, hope your little one is all better! It's a shame people jumped to conclusions so quickly (something I am guilty of sometimes, and I won't deny it). We were recommended Sudocrem, many other dog owners use it. Of course it is wise to go to the Vet if the cut is dirty or swollen; but like a human's bumps and scrapes, dogs heal well naturally.
If Jack, our Collie, had a problem, we'd be straight to the Vet with him, as you would, but I do know some dog-owners who are off to the Vet in a panic at the merest sign of a bump or bruise. These are natural, given dogs' inquisitive and sometimes clumsy nature! While it's not OK to leave a suffering dog without treatment, I also don't think it's healthy to go off bothering the Vet at every cut and scrape!
Sorry to hear your life is so hectic at the moment, I hope it is better soon...
Again, hope he is all better! Lisa x

[divegirl]

I think you need to calm down abit, neither I or Lankeela were 'attacking' you....just stating the truth. Lankeela always offers the most fantastic advice on here, and I am but a mere mortal! The welfare of the animal is our main concern and although I am sorry to hear of your home situation, we were hardly aware of that when you posted. If you read my post all I suggested was that a product for animals was better than a human one..... Any way, sorry if I upset you, but if you want real abuse go over to B&S and ask Ward Minter for advice!!!

Lisa

[mycats]

Try not to get upset crisgal, I know you must have been hurt by the suggestions that you cant afford to have your dog.
You obviously love him and I'm sure if he needed to go to the vet you would find a way.