What Are the Treatments for Canine Bedsores?
Canine bedsores (also called pressure ulcers) are tough to fix. You must keep the dog from lying on the sore while you treat any infection that settles in the wound. Without preventative measures, these painful ulcers will return.
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Causes
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Bedsores form whenever a dog lies on a hard surface for long periods of time. Common bedsore spots are the elbows and hips. Large breeds, senior dogs and disabled dogs are prone to bedsores. Dr. Amy Wolff writes on Petplace.com that an aging dog's loss of muscle mass increases the chance of developing pressure sores.
Treatments
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Alleviate the pressure to prevent the sore from deepening. DogsWithDisabilities.com suggests using donut cushions for hips and "water wings" (like what children have for swimming) for elbows. Keep the sore clean and administer any prescribed antibiotics. Feed a high-quality food---and enough of it---to help the body heal.
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Problem signs
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Pus, redness, swelling and a bad smell all indicate infection in the sore. Antibiotic treatment must start immediately.
Recovery
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According to DogsWithDisabilities.com, it may take two to four weeks of treatment before healing begins. Signs of healing include shrinkage of the sore and less draining of fluids.
Prevention
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Have the dog rest on thick padding. Also, help the dog change position every two to four hours if the animal can't do that on its own.
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