Dew Claws

[Hastings gal]

Hello my rescue pup (purebred yellow lab) had surgery on Friday Neutered and Dew Claws removed - he will be 6 months on the 7th. He removed bandage last night on right paw took him to vet 1st thing this am and vet took other one off and gave him a collar, said to let air get at them. I requested downers for him when I picked him up on Friday afternoon - vet said no. He is 58# and 125% bundle of energy and all pup - any suggestions on how to keep the front paws covered up? When I go home and find the collar destroyed. Vet told me to be creative with socks.... Labs lost your # phone took a bath.

[Pherris]

Well this is JUST AN OPINION so do a little reading and decide for yourself. My black lab is very high energy and when I had her spayed they told me to keep her "calm" for a few days. I told the vet that would be near impossible and also asked for sedatives. Got the same answer as you. My buddy that has had several labs told me to give my pup some Benadryl and that would calm her down. I did some reading and found many people give it to dogs to "sedate" them for traveling and other situations. I did a search for Benadryl for dogs to get info and determine the dose. It worked very well. I kept her on it for about 3 days and she was fine and slept most of the time. It worked very well for my situation,but again it is only a suggestion.

Good Luck and thanks for rescuing your pup!

[Bryce]

Benadryl is a good safe bet to try. Chamomile tablets are also said to help. Socks and duct tape. Should be able to youtube video of installing dog boots to get an idea of how to securely fasten using a couple pieces of inside/out tape.

[nofishfisherman]

How much benadryl do you guys give to calm your dogs down? I give my vizsla benadryl on occasion when he has allergy issues or if he is stung by a bee or biten by black flies. I've never noticed it to reduce any of his energy level. I usually only give one tablet as needed so the dosage may not be enough.

Is the dog crate trained? If so you can also try to keep the pup crated for a few days as things heal.

Other dogs I've seen after dew claw surgey have all been wearing socks over the area with the ends cut off so the paw can stick out. Athletic tape should also work to hold the sock on.

[rundrave]

When I go home and find the collar destroyed.

I just had one of my high strung GSP's in the cone of shame for over 3 weeks. I found that duct tape was the cure all. I put it around the lip/end of the cone to keep it from shattering and cracking. I also applied some along the seem of the cone where it meets together. When you think you have enough tape on there, add some more.

I also found that you cant just tie a string around the dogs neck through the loops to keep them from slipping it off. I had to put a collar through the loops because the string didnt hold up and allowed him to get too much leverage.

I learned my lesson quickly after he destroyed the first cone and then the 2nd. Duct tape is much cheaper than anesthesia and stitches especially when you have to pay multiple times. Its been a long few weeks for us.

[Hastings gal]

Thanks for the suggestions. Much to my surprise the cone was still intact and on him yesterday afternoon. Cone is working - I do take it off him when he is outside with me, he looks so sad with it on. Now to have him forget where his toys are for until the 16th...

Paws looked okay this morning I am amazed with how fast he is healing up. Labs did tell me to trust the cone for a few more days and he should be fine since he is not a compulsive licker, gave me advise on Neosporin too.... Without his toys he is a bored puppy and when we are out I do let him carry a ball around he is having a hard time figuring out that I will not throw it for him...

Bryce he is 58# at 6 mo. how much Benadryl would you suggest? Rundave the cone that they gave me attaches to his collar itself. He cannot get it off - he knocks a lot of stuff down with it when he has it on outside of his crate. He is Crate trained and that is how I am keeping him confined now - Large crate and collar barely fits thru door.

[Ufatz]

Hang in there with the cone. It is a major PITA for YOU but believe it not your yellow pal will quickly figure out how to work around it and be just fine. Leave it on until healing is well along. Get your medical dosage advice from your vet-based on dog weight and WHAT it is you are going to give to dog.

My new Abby is a Tiny Tornado of 55 lbs at ten months. She is small but mighty......I picked her just because she is small but Lord can she fly off the end of a dock! She's almost TOO much for an old man.

I've always said "Every Labrador needs a thirteen year old boy."

Have fun. And thanks for the rescue.

[Hastings gal]

Thanks Ufatz. I am sticking with the cone he only gets it off when I am at home watching him like a mother hen.... I will ask the vet about Benadryl when the stitches come out - Neosporin is a spray to keep it clean and bacteria free (not supposed to get wet). He likes to jump off steps, deck and furniture to furniture also but training to keep him from Jumping. I have a fourteen year old boy that loves to play with Apollo - but does not like him being unavailable to play with for 2 weeks! Double dose of guilt.. I will get thru this though been thru worse. Rescue was thru no dog left behind - great job they do. Got lucky getting a purebred pup, very smart and gentle (for the most part - has to learn to slow down and stop)would not change a thing - especially the rescue part.

[Pherris]

Another option I forgot is a product called Anti-LickStrip made by Nurtured Pets. It is a adhesive strip with only natural ingredients. Ground cayenne pepper, ground oregano leaf, lemon powder, clove oil.

I used them to cover sores she got on her upper front legs from her skid plate. And they worked well.

Aa far as the dose for Benadryl for dogs it is 1 mg per pound.

Good Luck!