Yesterday we started our day like any other. We went on a walk that is a regular. Did the same route, passed the same scenery. But within the time of 5 minutes, Pen went from being her usual self to being subdued and fannying about near me, instead of swimming in the lake like the other dogs. I thought she'd caught her foot down a hole as she was licking her front leg a bit. So I thought nothing of it. Then when I did a check over her after 5 minutes (normally she's back to normal after she's rested it for a little bit) I found a scratch on the flappy bit that attaches her leg to the rest of her. I then picked up her front legs and checked her underside. We cut the walk short and took her to the vets.
I am certain this is brambles as she only had a short space of time to do this in - she was completely herself until we got to the little hill where we walk down to the lake. My friend and I will be going back up tomorrow to check if there is any wire, glass or anything she could've done it on other than the brambles and gorse in the area. But the vet did say that it looked like a bramble with all the bruising and the scratches around - he would've thought with anything else there would've been more and deeper cuts.
She is currently feeling very sorry for herself with good reason, is laid up, has Anti biotics and is very sore. But other than that and a sore throat where the tube was during her stitching up, she is Ok, as Ok as she can be. It was just a matter of time before one of them got a serious injury, the way they head into cover.
I have a thin skinned Cocker here that hasn't damaged herself in brambles, has anyone been hedge cutting / brush cutting around there? Looks more like the cut from the end of a broken stick or discarded barbed wire. Whatever, it looks extremely painful!
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Judy - I don't know - I'm guessing brambles or gorse as thats all there is around the water - she hadn't been in but there was nothing in the water as the other dogs were splashing about. But we are having a wander back up there to see if there was anything I missed. She couldn't have done it earlier on the walk as I would've noticed. It's all left to grow wild on this walk, there are no rangers or anyone, So it could be that she caught it on a stick or something. But I went over the same path as she did and through the same bushes (I was trying to look for something to throw for them - normally people hide tennis balls) but I only got tangled in bush.. there was no wire or anything. I do have to walk Lou with a skid plate on in a particular wood because the brambles are so thick and he has come back with some deep cuts before so he always wears a plate when we walk there - but he's never had cuts needing stitches.
Jelinga - indeed an expensive one - was lucky it wasn't deeper or further over She'll be as right as rain after her pain killers and AB's. Lucky girl gets cooked chicken breast and mince for the next few days though until her throat is better. She has an awful cough - I think they ragged the tube out rather than just pulled it out. She wasn't like this when she had her spay.
If it was deep enough for stitches then that would be through skin &, presumably, deeper & I would find it hard to believe that this was caused by brambles or gorse. I expect many on here have worked numerous spaniels through acres of the most punishing brambles & gorse over the years & have never found either capable of doing this sort of damage. You get plenty of nasty scratches, embedded thorns, nicks & abrasions but I've never seen deep cuts, or broken skin as in this example. I've seen damage from cut wood/jagged stumps & that is more like a deep gouge.
Naj wrote:If it was deep enough for stitches then that would be through skin &, presumably, deeper & I would find it hard to believe that this was caused by brambles or gorse. I expect many on here have worked numerous spaniels through acres of the most punishing brambles & gorse over the years & have never found either capable of doing this sort of damage. You get plenty of nasty scratches, embedded thorns, nicks & abrasions but I've never seen deep cuts, or broken skin as in this example. I've seen damage from cut wood/jagged stumps & that is more like a deep gouge.
Naj
Agree with Naj, doesn't look like brambles. I'd think there was some metal hidden in the brambles, an old nail in some wood perhaps?
Went back today, re-traced our steps and went from where she could've done it - couldn't find anything other than really thick branches with thorns on.
We may never know what caused it and I didn't think it was as deep as it must've been.
You will probably never know. One of mine came back covered in blood earlier this month and had more or less ripped their stopper pad right off along with the dew claw on the opposite foot. Horrible when accidents happen in the middle of nowhere and I have no idea of knowing how she did it. Taken for ever to knit back together as well, even with stitches. Every time she extends her leg I guess it pulls a bit.
I don't think brambles or gorse are capable of making a wound like that one. I've had dogs in brambles now for more than 50 years and seen plenty of cuts, scratches and embedded thorns but no cut deep enough to require stitching. A broken branch, a nail on an old broken fence or discarded wire all seem far more likely culprits to me.
Wullie
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She'll be as right as rain after her pain killers and AB's. Lucky girl gets cooked chicken breast and mince for the next few days though until her throat is better. She has an awful cough - I think they ragged the tube out rather than just pulled it out. She wasn't like this when she had her spay.