Urgent--Willow's hurt

Jessie said to send her sympathy to Willow, and tell her she's not dumb at all -- at least she just bit her tail and didn't go through a plate glass window and cut her nose open!

Talked to Dr. Niccole who lives downstairs and she says if the bleeding has stopped, and you've cleaned it, put on some Neosporin and bandaged it, then you shouldn't worry. A vet might give her an antibiotic shot, but otherwise, they wouldn't do much different from what you've already done.

She did say keep an eye on her and if you see any signs of infection (oozing or discharge, fever, etc.), change of appetite or lethargic behavior, then a vet trip is in order.

Feel better, Willow!

Jan & Jessie

I can't add to anything that has been said, but I wanted to say that you and Willow are in our thoughts.  I'm sure she'll be better in no time.

-Ed

Ugh, I don't know if we need some type of spiritual cleansing over here today or what but she's off the wall today! 

After the drama and bleeding stopped I left her gated in the living room to go do some errands.  I came back and it was obvious that she has been licking the area and it was bleeding a little again, it's not coming out like it was and going on the floor, it's just oozing a little.  I bought some antibiotic spray for dogs that also has a bitter taste.  It was too hard to put the ointment on, she pulls away, it hurts, this way I can just spray. 

THEN, we go for a walk and she has soft poop which sticks to her bottom.  So, I've got to clean that up when we get home.  I think it's from the pain and from her being nervous about what happened because she was fine this morning.  And, she normally doesn't poop twice a day.  And, she's acting fine otherwise. 

So, now I'm hoping for a quiet evening! 

Oh, she also had moved the rug in the living room and I just noticed that there are balls all over the kitchen, don't know when that happened. 

She never acts like this!
 
THANKS FOR ASKING DR NICCOLE FOR ME

Oh, Willow.....

Feel better soon, rotton girl. Don't scare your mom like that!

Oh Willow, you poor silly girl!  I understand why you get your radar up when you hear people coming to the door, but biting your own tail is not the best way to channel that kind of anxiety.  Let me recommend some cleansing yoga breaths.  Ready?  Inhale calmness, exhale chaos.  Inhale calmness, exhale chaos.  See?  Doesn't that feel better than a bite?  []
 
Tonka used to get little splits on his ear tips from flapping his head too hard before we got smart about improving his food and eliminating his ear-sensitivity triggers.  We used to use one of the "single" antibiotic ointments (not the triple combo kind), and sometimes it would take a few days before it would stop breaking open and oozing a bit.  I agree with everyone else--just keeping it clean and using a bit of ointment should help ward off any issues.  Plus, I know you'll be watching it very closely, so there's no chance a problem will go undetected!
 
Maybe all the other goofy things going on with her are due to her being a bit uncomfortable.  Either that, or the summer heat has finally made her loopy!

ORIGINAL: willowchow

THEN, we go for a walk and she has soft poop which sticks to her bottom.  So, I've got to clean that up when we get home.  I think it's from the pain and from her being nervous about what happened because she was fine this morning.  And, she normally doesn't poop twice a day.  And, she's acting fine otherwise. 

Oh sweetheart! Welcome to my life! I have to wipe Casey bottom every time she poo's. She had both anal glands removed and well, that end has always been a challenge it seems! Thankfully, she's much happier and healthier since the surgery 2 or so years ago. It's a small price I have to pay (and my FI-bless his heart!).

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about Willow. I hope she's better soon. I'm sure she'll be back to her tail wagging antics in no time (less the tail bitting part..). We used generic neosporin all the time btw, at the kennel I worked at. Maybe give her baby asprin if it seems inflamed and sore?

Poor Willow..[]

Awwwww, Willow, you silly girl.  Grady understands how being anxious can make you do silly things.  Another thing you can use to stop bleeding is alum powder & I also use liquid bandage when necessary.  Both seem to help really well.
 
Give Miss Willow some kisses from me.

Oh boy Willow,,,,,you ARE a silly girl....and I can see Bubby doing the exact same thing!!!  Somehow they sometimes don't know what to do with all that anxiety!!!   \
I'll be by now everything is okay. I hope so anyway.
Lori, if you got any Rescue Remedy,,,maybe you both could use some to settle down for th rest of the night!

Aw poor Willow, Im sorry pretty girl I hope your tail heals up quickly![]

Thank you everyone.  She's in a bit of pain tonight and we have to keep reminding her to leave it alone.  She doesn't mind having the antibacterial spray put on so that's good.  I think she might loose the tip of her tail though.  It looks like it's just barely hanging on.  It still works to wag though. . .[&:]  

I am soo sorry Willow. . . Jimmy James and Prudence send you their best and Jimmy James say' s "don't wag it too hard or lick it too much because then you will end up like me. . . I only have a little nubbin of my long beautiful tail because I wouldn't leave it alone and I kept wagging it and then it would bleed again and then my first owner returned me to the rescue becasue I bled all over their house and car.[]   
Now, my new mommy laughs at my little nubbin tails and says it is her favorite thing on my body."

Sounds like you did all the right things Lori and just keep a close eye on it and you may have to go to the vet soon. If she wags it, it will continue to reopen the wound and bleed. 

Let us know how she is doing. . . I am sure her mommy is giving her lots of lovees right now to make up for her discomfort! 

He's awesome!  I used to sit for a retired greyhound last year.  It was sad what happened to him.  He was a great dog, friendly, gentle, just a little clueless about things as they are at first.  Well, he got bit by a dog and that ruined him.  He was totally afraid to leave the house.  He'd run out, pee and want back in.  He wouldn't walk.  He started pooping and then eventually peeing in the house too.  They put up with it for a short time and then returned him.  I don't know what became of him. 

I walked another one too.  But, he was much better adjusted. 

Oh yeah, there was blood all over the kitchen.  I was in a total panic. 

She's usually whereever I am but tonight she's even more clingy.  She even wanted to be on the couch next to me.  She finally ate. 

I might call the vet tomorrow, I'm so worried still.  What if it opens up again while we are at work?? 

Yeah Lori,,,maybe a stitch or two might be in order...at least the vet will know that for sure.
Let us know! 
Hey,,pretty girl,,,, don't make your tail worse,,,let it alone to heal!!!

Sunny lost the tip of his tail a couple years ago.  We were going over to visit my parents, who he loves visiting, and when he jumped down from the back seat of the car he immediately moved toward the front of the car closing the door on the very tip of his tail.  Before I could open the door he pulled free and left mostly hair and the very tip of his tail caught in the door.  I was mortified.  His tail is very bushy and long hair.  I am sure if his hair was shorter this would not have happened.  I rushed him to my parents patio and my Dad got some neosporin and we put that on the tip of the tail.  In the mean time Sunny is wagging his tail to beat the band and their patio, glass sliding doors and white siding was covered with blood spatter.  I took him to the vet (with the tip of his tail) and the vet said we had done the right thing but it would heal.  I don't remember if he gave me medicine or not.  He probably thought I was looney bring the tail piece in with me.  It was not like he could have put it back on.  Since then I have always been really careful to hold onto the door when he jumps out. 
 
I am sure Willow will be fine also.  Just will need some extra pampering for a few days.
barbara

Lori-
You may come home from work to another bloody mess, and yes, it is VERY frightening. Greyhounds are known for having "happy tail syndrome" (that is what happened to JJ) and the rescue has permanent blood stain in the paint on the walls due to the "spray" that happens when they injure them and then wag.  It always looks worse than it is though!
 
JJ, like your Willow, is a special needs dog and to be very honest, his tail should have been amputated a year before it was. When I adopted him I saw some of the ER vet reports from his previous owners (he had 2 before me), and several vets had mentioned that they recommended amputation due to infections, and repeat splitting and bleeding of the tail. He wasn't amputated until 7 months before I got him when he was returned to the rescue again(more than 1 1/2 years AFTER the tail was first injured). Because no one made that decision he continually had bandages, stitches, ointments and everything else so his issues got worse. He now is fear agressive and will snarl if someone is over him or if he feels threatened in any way. He was completely unadoptable and wouldn't let anyone who was interested in him come near him. He did very well with DH and I and that is why we fostered and then a month later adopted him. He just broke my heart!  []
 
  I tell you this because it has taken a lot to get him OK and trusting us. I can now touch him anywhere (including the tail area), stand over him, hug him and do everything without any fear of me or DH. He would have never gotten as bad as he was if his other owners had made the decision to do amputation.I am sure that Willow will be just fine, but if she has any continual problems with bleeding or reoccurent infections over the course of a few months, I would definately discuss amputation of that area with the vet. You have been through so much with that poor girl and I would hate to see her develop behavioral problems because of her injury.  []        
 
Let us know how she is and btw- I "hear ya" on the grey that you sat for that was terrified. I have one now that came home with me a week ago and she is just terrified of strangers and other non-greyhounds. We live  in a condo and HAVE TO take her on walks just to potty. . . everyday is a challange with her. I commend you for taking care of the spooky boy, I am going to have to have her boarded at the rescue when we go on vacation because I  honestly feel I can't ut any of our pet sitters through all the work. She was another return and was "unadoptable" also. . . hmmm... I see a pattern developing with us!
 
Take care of that precious little girl, I WUV that wittle face of hers![]