Dog chewed tail off... Help please

[peachfish]

I found a small dog on my porch one morning. It had been hit by a car and badly injured. I took her to the vet, and found her pelvic bone was crushed. I could not afford to call in a specialist for surgery. Per doctors orders I kept her immobile for 4 weeks. She was on pain meds & antibiotic. I have been giving her probiotic as well. And feeding her lots of organ meats for added health benefit. About a week & 1/2 ago I noticed a deep laceration in her tail that went all the way around it like a ring. Thinking it was from being hit, I opted to leave it alone to heal on it's own. Checked it next day , it looked horrible. I decided I would call the vet on Monday and get her in. Next day she had pulled the flesh/hair off like a sheath. Remaining was her tail bone. By the end of the day she had chewed it off. I know, it sounds like a nightmare. All the while we had our car go out unexpectedly and had an engine replaced. I called the vet and he said it needs amputated. I would have to pay 100$ down to have it done. I do not have the money. Literally. I have been trying to treat her myself, but am getting worried. Does anyone have any ideas? Any products I can use? I know breeders who dock tails surely use something to promote healing. Any suggestions?

[davet]

of them will heal with cage rest, that is no problem but the tail is another story...i would ask the vet if he/she will take extended payments....in the mean time try to keep it moist with Dr. Legars Bag balm (drug store)...but the sooner it is removed the better off it will be...i im,agine a dog in the jungle would have nothing done and in a month or two the tail would slough off but that is just speculation....ask the vet for extended payments and if need be get a Taxi to his office because if it turns black andnecrotic it will be a rproblem...keep up the antibiotics and use the Balm.....but ask the vet..it never hgurst vets to take extended payments and besides it is good publicity.....good luck

[Guest]

The car is fixed- no taxi needed. The problem is with the vet. I have to pay $100 down. I racked up a $200 bill with the broken pelvis that will be extended payment. They will not see her without $100 and I phisically do not have it. Christmas and cars. I have thought of how her injury would heal in the wild as well. On it's own I guess. I will keep you posted.

[Traci]

You are taking a grave risk by letting this go, or by assuming you can treat this on your own, you CANNOT. The tail is obviously necrotic and if you don't get it attended to, this dog could lose her life. Blood supply is cut off, infection can become severe and enter the bloodstream if it hasn't already, it could turn into sepsis and she could die.

Call other vets in your area. Most vets will allow payments (post-dated checks), as long as you leave them a suitable down-payment, they should work with you.

[JMM]

CareCredit is another option.

[davet]

i guess i retired to early after reading the post on these sites...I would charge $85 or so to remove a tail and never requiered people to pay in advance...i know i did get ripped off once in a while but never enough to require people to pay up fron before i would treat an animal...did many "payments when you can" and i guess i told this before but had a young couple come in and told me up front they didn;t have any money but promised to pay when they could...i sent one bill and then no more and a few years llater they saw me in a grocery store and paid...lots of the vets in my area (with a few exceptions) worked this way...there were a couple who considered money over treatment...i just don't understand how a vet can require a down paymetn before a necessary treatment is started...i am not by any chance bragging but just musing on how things have changed...course i had no college loand to pay off but did raise 7 kids and had, i hope a vairly good, or at least fair rep...and again this is theyway it was with most vet...---sorry for the rambling and lack of corrections again

[Guest]

No rambling- It's interesting to hear your perspective. The clinic I take my animals to, where they know me, would not work with me at all. I opted for the vet my Mother goes to. It this office the is a man Dr and a woman Dr. The man is very practical. If an animal needs put down he will tell you so. I guess with the woman she will stop at almost nothing to save the animal. She is also a stickler for payment. She is the one I have been dealing with. I think today I'll ask for him. Sorry for me rambling now! I am going to call them this morning and make an appointment for her. And all I will pay is about $25-$30. That's all I can do today. I am good for it just not one lump right now.
Do you agree with the post that said it cannot heal on it's own? I know it needs treated but one would think that there would be something I could do for her at home. I was reading where breeders who dock (I'm anti-docking myself) use some kind of antiseptic powder.
I'm going to call the vet now. Wish me and her luck.

[davet]

i can't agree or dissagree with the post about healing on its own because i hjave never seen it happen...when ever a tail got "degloved" like that i would amputate immediatly...so don;t know what would happen if nothing were done but lets not experiment with your pet....let us know

[Guest]

She has an appointment for amputation tomorrow morning. I told them my situation and had to but heads , but I will only have to pay $50 down. That's much better for me. I feel so much better. I'll post after her procedure tomorrow.

[Traci]

Thank you for working this out with the clinic, your dog will thank you for it!!

The tail is a very sensitive area of the body, and since it carries blood flow just as any other limb, it carries the same risk as that of limb necrosis caused by degloving or infection. If the dog causes further damage to the tail by chewing and pulling, then nerve damage can result and this can affect not just the tail but the spine, etc (imagine the excruciating pain). If blood flow is cut off by necrosis, the infection spreads further up, if not already into the bloodstream. Amputation at the nearest area where there is live tissue provides the best course of treatment.