CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Penelope on January 03, 2008, 12:51:33 PM
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Poor old Buffy is in the wars again! When I was combing her ears on New Years day she really yelped - although there weren't any tangles. On closer inspection I found what I could only describe as a gash on the outside of her ear. I cleaned it with diluted hibiscrub and waited to see how she got on. Yesterday she was a bit low and definitely off her food, so rang the vet and took her down this morning.
She has yet another infected bite - probably from Poppy again. Although we keep them apart as much as humanely possible, as soon as Poppy sees her she is so excited she jumps on her and I think this gash is the result of one meeting.
The vet said it was quite nasty and if it doesn't close up by Monday may need a stitch or two. She was an absolute angel at the vet's - he suggested he may have to sedate her to clip the fur away from the wound, but I said I think she would let him do it if he was careful. She nuzzled into me and let him clip away all the fur so he could see it better and it really is quite nasty.
He said she was really really sweet, and incredibly good for letting him do it. She just looked so sad, but didn't make a sound!
She was wagging her tail and asking him to stroke her as soon as he finished! She is currently lying the other side of the stair gate surrounded by her toys, but really wanting to come in and play with the other 3. She is still off her food so have just been out to buy some chicken for her - bet she can't resist that later on! She has had a shot of antibiotics, and is back on them again for the 3rd time in just over a month.
Poppy bites and chews when playing with the other 2 big dogs all the time (they are just starting to tell her off and put her in her place when she gets too boisterous) but they never seem to have any cuts or gashes. I guess poor old Buffy is just a big softy all over - will get some pix on here soon as they have all grown since I last posted!
Buffy went back to the vet today and we have to starve her tomorrow morning, and take her in at 08.30. He will sedate her, put a drain into the wound and possibly stitches too. He is going to send a sample off for analysis too to see if there is a reason why she keeps getting infections. I am dreading it cos she is so sweet and lovely, I just know she is going to hate being at the vet.
The only good thing is that Trev has just been signed off work for a while, so he will be at home to spoil her rotten for me! :luv:
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Poor Buffy, get well soon girl. :luv:
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Poor Buffy. Give a likkle squish from me and I hope she is feeling better soon.
Would love to see some pictures of your gorgeous girlie too :luv: :luv:
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awww... poor buffy :'(
Hope she gets better soon.
Amanda & Poppy x
PS - second the request for pics!
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Hi Penny,
Sorry to hear Buffy has been in the wars again!
Who is Poppy???? Is she a new member of the family??
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Aww poor Buffy :'( ...lots of gentle hugs coming your way for your brave girlie x
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Penny sorry only just seen this
Poor Buffy - Poppy does seem to be picking on her the poor wee mite - Hope she is better soon - how did she go with eating the chicken?
Think you better get pics on soon :005: All 4 of your dogs are lovely ;)
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Poor little Buffy :'( she's had a tough time lately hasn't she? :-\ Please give her a hug and kiss from me and Flo :-* :-*
Jann :luv: :luv:
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I think Poppy is in league with the vet and they will be off on a fab Holiday soon with the money he has made :lol:
Seriously though love to Buffy from the boys.
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Buffy sounds like an angel :angel:
Hope she's feeling better soon!
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Gentle squidges to Buffy - I'm sure one whiff of roast chicken will perk her up no end :shades: :luv:
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Oh poor Buffy!!
Hope you get better soon little one :luv:
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Have posted pix in puppy photos of all 4 dogs. Buffy is still feeling rough and has to go back to the vet on Monday to see if it needs stitching - i think it will TBH as it doesn't seem to be closing at all. Every time I clean it (which I have to do twice a day) it just re-opens and bleeds and oozes more stuff.
Poor little girl - we should have called her Angel instead of Buffy cos she is soooooo good.
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Ahh poor Buffy, she does look angelic in her photo. :luv: :luv: Hope she mends soon. :luv:
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Somehow I have managed to include the update in the original thread - doh! >:D
Sorry, hope you get the gist of it! :005:
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;) good luck tomorrow Penny and Buffy :luv: :-*
Will be thinking of you
Jann and Flo :luv:
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Hope it goes well.
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Thinking of you tomorrow :luv:
Hope all goes well xx
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Special healing thoughts coming your way for you lovely girlie :luv:
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This morning was awful - not only could Buffy not go for a walk with the others, but she wasn't allowed any food either. That meant they all had to wait as there is no way I could feed them and not poor Buffy.
Trev was so sweet - he knew I would be upset leaving Buffy at the vets for an anaesthetic, so he took her for me. :luv: He is a tall guy (6ft 2) but he said that even he had a lump in his throat when they took her from him, as she was really crying and straining to go back to him. :'(
The vet sedated her, shaved the fur from all round the wound and cleaned it thoroughly - I cannot tell you how awful it looks now! Trev collected her at 3.00pm and she was so pleased to see him. She came home and slept until I got home. They told us to only feed her a light meal of chicken and rice, so that is all she has had so far.
We also have to keep her right away from the other dogs - no walks with them or anything until it heals over because they constantly want to lick her wound!
Tomorrow afternoon she is allowed out for a walk - without the other dogs, and she must stay away from any other dogs and from mud (ha ha, she is a cocker) but guess it should be fairly easy to keep mud away from her ears if we stay away from puddles! :005:
She is absolutely fine and can't wait for her next light meal (in about an hour's time) but all she wants is to be cuddled. Trev is doing the honours while I am on here, then it will be my turn again whilst he has the other 3 girls.
We are in for a fun evening I think , but at least she is OK and home again safe and sound. Fingers crossed it hurries up and heals over nicely so she can play with her friends again.
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Have they sutured it as well as clean it?
I would have thought that ears would heal very quickly in dogs just as with humans. The blood supply is pretty good just there.
Hope she is soon feeling fine and that she will then cope with all the restrictions (you too!)
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I hope Buffys ear heels up soon, she sounds a real darling.
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Poor you and Buffy - Hope it heals real well and soon
Trev is an :angel: you are so lucky to have him, hope he is ok as you mentioned he was signed off work :-\
Lots of :luv: :-* and {Hugs} to you all ;)
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Hoping she feels better soon :blink:
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I was quite surprised that they did not stitch it! They are hoping it will close over by itself and don't want to see her again unless we have any problems.
Now is the time we find out if our new insurance company are any good as this will be our first claim since we joined them! So far, for the leg and ear, we have had to pay out £400 so hope they pay us back quickly! (Our vet used to deal directly with the claims, but now we have to pay up front and then claim it back which is a bit of a pain to say the least) Trev thinks it is a bit excessive so is going to ask for a breakdown tomorrow when he goes down to pay (as he didn't have enough money or any cards on him today, surprise surprise!!)
Will let you know how long they take and if they pay it all (they certainly should according to their literature - apart from the first £39 for each claim!)
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Aww glad Buffy is home and on the mend. :luv: :luv: My OH does tricks like that. :005:'what, i have to pay as well!' :005:
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Glad to hear that the little darling is safe & sound at home now.
Heres to a speedy recovery :D
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Bless her. The skin on the ear can be really paper thin and fragile, sometimes they leave it open to heal.
Hope she feels better soon. :luv:
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Poor Buffy :luv: hope she is feeling better soon