Ok, my dog is doing better. His leg is getting right swollen, though. I gave him aspirin, though I am unsure what "buffered aspirin" is. The kind I gave him has no easy to swallow outside wrapper (wax or whatever) and seems to be helping him. The vet was supposed to have the antibiotics ready and waiting for me this morning, but has "no recollection" of talking to me (or putting me on hold for 45 minutes, right?). Incidentally, my wife might be able to get something for him, as she works at tractor supply and has acess to livestock stuff. I have doctored the wounds with peroxide, and Pinee (its for cows I think, but came with high recommendations for humans and anything other than cats). I have wrapped the bigger wounds with gauze and wrap, and have been changing them daily or sooner. All the wounds are scabbing over ok, but he is not using the hurty leg at all, and its getting swollen. I guess I had better call around and find a different vet, antibiotics ought to help out and get him up and running soon. I do thnk all who helped, I was getting a little bit panicked and the advice was great. THANKS!!

-- -Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), February 11, 2002

Answers

Kevin does tractor supply sell antibiotics ? How about any left over human ones? Swelling is normal , can you ice it ?

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

Tractor Supply does have antibiotics. You should be able to get whatever you need there. So glad to hear the dog is improving. I've had no good experiences with cars v. dogs.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 11, 2002.

I hope your dog heals well. Our dalmation (not known for looking where they are going) ran out in front of a car when she was about 10 months old, and we were so lucky she wasn't killed. The vet did bandage her leg up to her body and wrapped it good, where she had to walk on three legs for a couple of weeks. Might this help your dog also? Sometimes taking the weight off helps with the swelling.

As a side note, our dog is now nearly 7 years old and the only side effect from her accident is an occasional limp on that foot when she has overdone it.

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), February 11, 2002.

Kevin, do you think the leg could be fractured? AB's will not help a broken leg and a Veterinarian would be open for mal practice for RX- ing them without seeing your dog. "Buffered" means the meds are coated with something like Maalox to keep the Aspirin from wreaking havoc on the lining of the stomach. Also, as mentioned before, it will cause the blood not to clot normally and so is counter indicated for many things. I hope you find another Vet who is capable of working with you better and I hope your dog is OK. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 11, 2002.

Damaged leg - very swollen - not bearing weight on it all. Get the dog x-rayed ASAP. Antibiotics and aspirin will not fix a broken leg or other structural damage (ligaments/tendons)

Non weight bearing lameness after a car accident - top of my list would be a fracture.

-- Cowvet (cowvet_nz@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

I absolutely agree with cowvet (and if he is, he ought to know, right)? Even if it's "just" a fracture, he ought to be splinted, bandaged, and all weight off of it. And it should have been wrapped and iced immediately after the accident. Now, the wrapping will help minimize any further swelling. But you really ought to have a vet xray him to rule out broken/fractured limb, cause if he lives through the resultant infection, his future ability to move freely and pain-free will be compromised. Good luck, keep us posted.

-- Michaela (flhomestead@hotmail.com), February 12, 2002.