My lab has a wound that won't heal.

calebib · October 2016

Sasha, my lab mix, has a small sore near the tip of her ear that refuses to heal. It's around 1/4" across and weepy and scabby. I've been keeping it clean to prevent infection and spraying it with vetricin (hypoclorous acid) but it still refuses to fully heal. It's been over six months now and the vet was no help, he said "yep, dog ears take forever to heal." The next thing I think I will try is cleaning it thoroughly then seal it up with Dermabond (surgical super glue). Has anyone else had a similar problem and if so, how did you get it to finally heal?

Thanks

Fisheadgib · October 2016

Years ago when I lived in Texas I kept my lab outside and one year she developed some similar sores and we discovered that they were from fly bites. After some ointment and fly repellant, they healed within a couple of weeks. the only thing I can think of that could take that long to heal would be something that she has a reaction to like a spider bite.

Jermanator · October 2016

Dogs can be diabetic too. A problem with diabetes is that wounds in the extremities have a hard time healing. Just a shot in the dark, but it would be easy enough to check the dog's blood sugar to find out.

Jayhawker · October 2016

Open wounds just suck......First rule...keep it clean...I treat open wounds on dogs and horses by washing wih a solution of Dawn dish soap and water
For hard to heal wounds,I use Granulex... the Vetricin may by irritating the tissue and inhibiting the healing process.
Might be necessary to have the vet debride the wound and start over OR excise the tissue...

Vic's Viewpoint · October 2016

Think "doggie Neosporin." I forget what the brand name is, but it's worked for my Lab, years ago.

Jayhawker · October 2016

Oh yeah....sealing that sore up with super glue?...I'd recommend against that...open wounds need air to heal.

kansashunter · October 2016

Is the dog digging at it or something to keep it from scabbing over?

Jayhawker · October 2016

kansashunter wrote: »

Is the dog digging at it or something to keep it from scabbing over?

This is worth considering as well...pup might need a cone....

NN · October 2016

I've used Jensen violet

calebib · October 2016

Thanks for the replies, I will go back through and take note of the suggestions.

To answer a few questions...

Her blood work all looks good so no to the diabetes, thankfully.
The sore is not from fly bites, we get very few flying insects at this altitude.
The sore does scab over, it just gets kinda crusty and thick which she then knocks off.
I will try something other than the vetricin, I've also tried triple antibiotic and blue coat spray.
I keep it as clean as I can, she's a dirtball. I usually clean the entire ear with betadine solution.

When I was a kid, we always used this stuff called Wonder Dust on the horses when they had wounds. Has anybody here used that for dogs?

Jayhawker · October 2016

I think I found your problem....the use of Betadine (also Hydrogen Peroxide) ONCE is fine...but both soluions are harsh and further use of either is re-injuring the tissue every time you use it. Stick with soap and water for cleaning when it needs it...

Farm Boy Deuce · October 2016

Corona, that stuff is magic. Along the same lines as Bag Balm but smellier and stickier.

tennmike · October 2016

Calebib, whether it's bacterial or viral, one thing I used on cattle all the time, and dogs and cats occasionally was a product called LA200. It can be used as a topical for pink eye, and injected for other problems like shipping fever. If the ear is sensitive at the site, the dog is going to hate you putting that stuff on the sore area; it burns some. I accidentally got a couple of drops on a scrape on my arm messing with some calves with pinkeye and turned the air blue for a short period of time until the burning subsided.

Here's a link to it and its use:
https://www.drugs.com/vet/liquamycin-la-200.html

Note that there is no recommendation about topical use. The vet I used at the time I had cattle recommended it for that use, though. Give your vet a call and see what he thinks.

orchidman · October 2016

Try and source some Manuka Honey dressings.......

Read about it here............ http://www.woundsresearch.com/article/honey-biologic-wound-dressing

If you cant find any over there I will try to source some from this company and post them over for you.

http://www.manukahealth.co.nz/wound_care.cfm?product_id=56

calebib · October 2016

orchidman wrote: »

Try and source some Manuka Honey dressings.......

Read about it here............ http://www.woundsresearch.com/article/honey-biologic-wound-dressing

If you cant find any over there I will try to source some from this company and post them over for you.

http://www.manukahealth.co.nz/wound_care.cfm?product_id=56

I'll go ask at our local health food store, they should have it. it does appear to be available in the US.

calebib · October 2016

tennmike wrote: »

Calebib, whether it's bacterial or viral, one thing I used on cattle all the time, and dogs and cats occasionally was a product called LA200. It can be used as a topical for pink eye, and injected for other problems like shipping fever. If the ear is sensitive at the site, the dog is going to hate you putting that stuff on the sore area; it burns some. I accidentally got a couple of drops on a scrape on my arm messing with some calves with pinkeye and turned the air blue for a short period of time until the burning subsided.

Here's a link to it and its use:
https://www.drugs.com/vet/liquamycin-la-200.html

Note that there is no recommendation about topical use. The vet I used at the time I had cattle recommended it for that use, though. Give your vet a call and see what he thinks.

I seem to recall using that with the cattle, I'll look into it.

calebib · October 2016

Jayhawker wrote: »

I think I found your problem....the use of Betadine (also Hydrogen Peroxide) ONCE is fine...but both soluions are harsh and further use of either is re-injuring the tissue every time you use it. Stick with soap and water for cleaning when it needs it...

Gotcha, that could be. I'll lay off the betadine. What do you think about using Dr. Bronner's soap and warm water to cleanse it?

calebib · October 2016

Farm Boy Deuce wrote: »

Corona, that stuff is magic. Along the same lines as Bag Balm but smellier and stickier.

I do have a tin of Bag Balm already, I tried it but my Alaskan husky, Oso, kept licking it off. He's weird.

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Jayhawker · October 2016

calebib wrote: »

Gotcha, that could be. I'll lay off the betadine. What do you think about using Dr. Bronner's soap and warm water to cleanse it?

That will do nicely

Jayhawker · October 2016

orchidman wrote: »

Try and source some Manuka Honey dressings.......

Read about it here............ http://www.woundsresearch.com/article/honey-biologic-wound-dressing

If you cant find any over there I will try to source some from this company and post them over for you.

http://www.manukahealth.co.nz/wound_care.cfm?product_id=56

Another angle worth delving into....Honey has been used for treating wounds for centuries,

CHIRO1989 · October 2016

It would not hurt to give your hound some Vit C, They produce their own but supplementing it will aid in wound healing. Google some doses based on your dogs weight.