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Dealing with a Bite Wound
Patient Name: Deidre
Patient Problem: Bite Wound
Deidre is a middle age lurcher and had a run in with another dog in the park - she received a really nasty bite injury to her thigh.
She was initially seen by our out of hours provision and came to us the next day - it was clear at that stage that traditional bandages were not going to work as the leg at that point is such an awkward shape and so mobile. It was also clear that the injury was too extensive to be repaired surgically.
Deidre had an anaesthetic to thoroughly clean and partially close the wound and to place anchor sutures for the bandaging/. Deidre then regular follow-ups for cleaning and bandaging. Deidre visited our nursing team every other day initially and then twice a week. The nurses flushed, cleaned and redressed each time and her owners were very dedicated, restricting her exercise, ensuring she wore tights or leggings to prevent the dressing getting rubbed on floors and furniture and having her in 2 collars so her lovely long nose couldn't reach the wound to interfere with the healing.
The Problem...
Upon Deidre's arrival at our facility the day following her injury, our team undertook a thorough evaluation. Recognising standard treatment methods might not be suitable, we opted for an innovative approach to ensure Deidre's comfort and recovery. Deidre was administered an anaesthetic to allow for a comprehensive cleaning of the wound and the placement of anchor sutures, laying the groundwork for a tailored bandaging solution.
What We Did...
Central to Deidre's recovery was the nurse-led care she received, highlighting the dedication and expertise of our nursing staff. Initially, Deidre required visits to our nursing team every other day, which later transitioned to twice-weekly check-ins. During these visits, our nurses performed critical tasks including flushing, cleaning, and redressing the wound, ensuring optimal conditions for healing.
What the Nurse Said
Deidre was a lovely patient who was so brave, letting us help her whilst she was in pain. We think her owner was also really brave and made the treatment so much easier as she followed all the advice and instructions to the letter - coming to regular appointments, preventing Deidre from interfering with the wound and keeping a really close eye on things. It was great to be able to see the progress as she came for her regular nurse appointments and I'm pleased it was so successful.
What the Pet Owner Said
The care from Roundwood was more than excellent , I cannot praise all of them enough. And Deirdre actually loved going there and trotted in happily which says it all . Her injury was traumatic for both of us and a frustrating 6 weeks of her with a cone and vet visits every few days . However from the start I could sense the best care possible and could see that she was healing well. I now feel I have my dog back and she is happier although unfortunately she has lost a lot of her confidence outside.
