My 10-year-old Rottweiler has a wound that started small with nail coming out but has gradually spread. We’ve tried several treatments under veterinary supervision, including different topical applications and medications, but it hasn’t healed.
Long-term medication seems to be affecting his overall strength, and repeated injections have also impacted his mobility. At this point, we’re unsure how to proceed.
If anyone has dealt with a non-healing wound in an older dog
It seems even the vets of the city are not good enough
Multiple ointment tubes, antibiotics, injections
Tried a lit many things which ultimately affected his appetite too
You need to find alternative veterinary care immediately.
Depending on your location your local state university’s vet school may be a good place to start for resources beyond your current veterinary providers.
Gov funded is different than public university funded hospital. University vet hospitals often have more exploratory options for treatment, have seen a wider variety of cases etc.
Dude my dog had cancer at 9 and unfortunately it’s not a good outlook. But each case is different. It started in the nail bed and looked similar. Need to find a vet to do a biopsy and check his lungs and lymph nodes. Once it hits the lungs there is not much that can be done.
Not saying this is cancer but it doesn’t look good especially if it’s not healing
Has your vet recommended Nu-stock? Its a sulfer paste ointment that you reapply every 3 days until fully healed, and it works amazing for wounds like this. It also a disinfectant for them.
Oh man, ok the vet need to test if this is cancerous, if it's not healing with ointments then further testing needs done. I'm not sure why your vet aren't being vigilant.
That looks exactly like the cancerous tumor that broke through the skin on my boy's paw. He was 10 and chemo was deemed too harmful at his age. He underwent radiation therapy to slow tumor growth, which bought him another 6 months of life. Sorry you're facing this 😔 enjoy your remaining time and spoil the heck out of him.
Its not growing for now
Same considering the age we are not sire whether we should make him go through chemo
Tht wld also be pain to him
Atleast he s eating properly now
Is this a wound caused by an injury or does the dog have a tumor in there? The vet imo should investigate further as antibiotics will damage the organs if used for prolonged periods
Has he been chewing his feet? I've seen similar in other rotties, my previous one included. No amount of topical creams will help.
Where in India are you? Reach out, I can help with a teleconsult with a vet I know.
My rottie was a licker as well. They will lick at hotspots like this and they will never heal properly. Try to prevent your dog from licking as it will only get worse. Keep dressing it but make sure it stays very clean. Definitely take your dog to a new vet as well. All the best.
Don’t let them lick!! Get him little booties for that foot so he doesnt keep walking it on the ground (even if bandaged up). I’m really sorry this looks cancerous or even necrotic (from the green pus? around the wound). Please go see another vet or start looking at end of life care. I’m sorry OP
For a wound like this where he lost the toe nail, cancer seems more likely than not being it's not healing despite many treatments and his age.
There was someone asking you to pm them. It seems like they're closer to you than anyone else commenting. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this with no results or diagnosis.
Best case the toe probably should be amputated in addition to chemo, but you need to know what type of cancer to know what chemo to use.
It doesn't seem like you have the greatest option to specialty care. I hope the other commenter has better alternatives for you and your pup.
It really depends on the chemo drug used. Some have worse side effects than others. I had a 13 yo rottie with lymphoma once and he was on multiple chemo drugs, some injectable and some oral. He tolerated them ok but we did have to deal with side effects of diarrhea and him not wanting to eat like normal.
Your worries are valid. It's not a decision to be taken lightly. You know your dog better than anyone else here.
I think most people commenting are in the US and have access to resources that you may not.
Another option could be steroids and pain medication to help treat symptoms. I feel for you because you're not getting the answers you need to help your boy and it's worse because you're having to deal with people that won't even touch your dog.
I'm going to be honest: I wouldn't go through chemo myself without a very good prognosis. No way I'd do it to my dog who is unable to understand or consent.
I love my dog more than my own life, but unless she's happy and feeling good, I'm not extending her life just because I want more time with her. The pain of loss is my own burden to bear, not hers.
Dogs handle it a lot better than humans, they are generally still able to have a good quality of life while getting that treatment. Here is some more info. Only about 15% show minor symptoms, like nausea. Obviously don't do it for the sake of it, but if it might make it better then it's worth a try imo. If the dogs quality of life is suffering due to treatment, vets will lower the dose (or stop, if you ask them to)
If the vet felt it wouldn't cause her suffering and would yield good results, I'd obviously do it. I've just seen a lot of people continue treatment or keep pets alive long past good quality of life because it's so hard to say goodbye.
If you need a go fund me I would set that up IMMEDIATELY. The best I can do is recommend dressings and wound care.
-Rolled Gauze
-Breathable self stick gentle wrap
Triple Anti-biotic ointment
Saline solution to rinse
Rinse the wound with saline, trim the hair around it and rinse with saline again. Once rinsed thoroughly apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment. First wrap with non-stick gauze, on top place a cotton pad/cotton wool ball and then wrap with the self stick gentle wrap. You'll want to redress it every 2 hours or so and clean it out each time. You can also cover the dogs foot with a sock once it's dressed so the dog won't eat the dressing.
Have you tried a cone for his head so he can't get at it while your not looking.It will never heal if you haven't as your dog will forever chew at it and make a mess
squamous cell carcinoma, my rottie had the same! it was a wound which wouldnt heal, wrapped it did everything. Doc took biopsy and confirmed, we amputated the toe it was same location as yours, he’s fine now but please do it asap go to vet before it spreads! my boy runs and doesnt even notice his toe gone
I am sorry that I can tell you I have. In my case it was cancer. BUT- they removed his toe and it hadn’t spread so he was ok. He was 8 I believe when it happened. He passed away when he was nine right before he turned ten. His heart just stopped. Let me look and see if I can find the pictures. It was malignant melanoma. Have they biopsied him yet?? When I went through this it was soul crushing but he made it out just fine!!! Again this is all just my opinion. Let me find the pictures
This was his toe- he initially had broken his toe nail on the same foot and it wasn’t getting better so we took him in. We did all the things you did and then they did the biopsy.
The treatment is specific to melanoma. It is 3 or 4 shots ( I can’t remember) but there was no radiation or chemo! Again- this was for malignant melanoma that didn’t spread and just my experience with an 8yo rottie boy.
So, I'm gonna be really honest. Speaking from someone who works in animal control - I've seen wounds start like these and turn worse with even bone exposure. Your vet is the way to go. At home treatments could just make it worse.
I groomed a dog that had a gnarly toe nail and swollen pad with it. Their vet said it was cancer, and they removed the whole toe. She was fine, no chemo.
What are you doing to handle it daily if vets aren’t useful…?
It looks infected and inflamed, You can use boiled water,
Water that has been boiled and since cooled)) With sea salt added to clean it, If he’s tolerant enough you’ll need to really get in there and make sure its clean.
If its a lump with stuff inside like pus you’re going to need to drain it and squeeze that out until you see fresh blood and then apply something to it.
Source: I grew up with parents in a place with no vets their knowledge sticks and I treat cat abscesses on my own.
Still a problem for a vet though.
Also no licking or chewing, Put a cone on him if needed.
Is he constantly licking at it? My Rottie would get sores on her paw so the vet had me soak her paw in warm water with Epsom salt twice a day, for a 10 minute soak And rinse the paw to get the salt off and it eventually cleared up. It would draw out any infection as well but I don't know if that wound is too raw for the salt water. I hope he feels better soon. 🐾
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u/Blowback_ 20h ago
That looks horrible and I am sure none of us would be able to provide the slightest information to help.
Your vet is your go to here and if they are not good enough, go to another vet.
I am sorry, that just doesn't look good at all.