Rob Hopkins New England
 MH Posts:89


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| 01/04/2011 6:35 PM |
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Well, I guess it was inevitable. I've been training with Katy for 18 months now and yesterday the odds caught up with us........
She was down running yesterday afternoon and she got caught on something- stick, ice not sure. It wasn't barbed wire as this is the back 9 of a Private golf course we train on during the winter (I grew up with the head greenskeeper) and there isn't any of that stuff in the woods.
Anyways...... a 450 yard walk back to my truck carrying her darn near killed me! Then the 9 mile ride to my vet in rush hour traffic almost did my blood pressure in. They had to put her under to sew this up- in the worst spot possible, inner right hind leg and then back up into the lower abdomen. It's "V" shaped and looks really gnarly (not the "good" gnarly!)

Just got back from the vet today to change out the "wet-to-dry" gauze pack and figure out next steps. Katy is on painkillers, antibiotics & dermamaxx (promotes skin healing). On the positive side (if there is one), there's no orthopedic damage (she was walking around today on a leash) and the laceration was strictly of the epidermal layer- it didn't puncture her abdomen. And the slice is pretty clean as was the wound when I brought her in. They cleaned it out real well yesterday and said it was "very clean" today.
I slept downstairs with her last night to keep an eye on things- I slept like crap. She finally ate, drank and pee'd this morning........ ate dinner and pooped when we got home tonight.
These are the chances we take every time we break our dogs away- it was what these dogs were born to do.......
Rob |
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May all your dog's points be productive....... |
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pixie bee
 MH Posts:4452


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| 01/04/2011 6:41 PM |
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OMG! Sending her hugs and kisses. How many stitches? She will be feeling this soon enough. They are braver than we think they are. Hang in there, Katy. Francine |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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MainCreeksRemi Wisconsin
 MH Posts:824


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| 01/04/2011 7:11 PM |
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Ouch. Thats a nasty one. Healing thoughts sent for Katy! |
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Loved by Kelley: Remi (7/3/2010) GSP Morgan (5/17/2008) Choco Lab Nallah (8/6/2006) Black Lab |
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Ken Lynch Hudson Valley in NY
 MH Posts:201


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| 01/04/2011 7:43 PM |
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| You are fortunate that it was only a skin tare. Yes it looks nasty, but once having gone through a wound like this you learn that it is not as life threatening as it first appears. For those that have not butchered their own animals (hunting or domestic) for food, the shock of seeing red is traumatic. Life experiences give tough but meaningful lessons. Looking forward to seeing you and Katy at field trials this coming Spring. Keep giving Katy lots of hugs. |
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zodiakgsps NW PA
 MH Posts:1059


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| 01/04/2011 8:00 PM |
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| Saw this exact injury on a GSP about 8 years ago at a hunt test, never did find out what caused it, she healed up fine. Sure is NASTY looking tho, UGH poor kid!!! (and poor you!!) Speedy recovery to Katy, keep us posted on her progress. |
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Texas Belle Austin, TX
 MH Posts:7855


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| 01/04/2011 8:46 PM |
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| Rob - My girl Halo did something very similar only in her own backyard. I never did figure out how she did it. We had it stitched at the emergency vet, but a few days later it started looking bad so took her to my vet and they put her under and opened it back up and re-cleaned it. The second time around it healed up nicely and has never bothered her. Hope your girl does well. The good news is it was only the layer of skin. Just watch it close to make sure it doesn't get infected. The problem with this type wound is you don't know what did it. Could have been a nice rusty piece of something, or something similar. I hope she gets well soon. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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gharner Middletown, PA
 MH Posts:565


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| 01/04/2011 9:10 PM |
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| Ouch! Sending some quick healing thoughts! |
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therozypozy
 MH Posts:471


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| 01/05/2011 5:35 AM |
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Ouch. Yes my Maple too did this, but like Bev's in the backyard at our house. I was outside and the dogs were running around and under a trampoline. This trampoline had U-bolts that protruded out. She cut the corner really close and then pushed by the lab she was running with and had a cut from the top of her shoulder to her underside. Like you my blood pressure was way up, but thankfully I did not have to carry her very far and the vet is only about 1/2 mile away. Needless to say the trampoline was disassembled. It was not even my trampoline, but rather someone who was living with us after Hurricane Katrina as their house had flooded in New Orleans.
Then later, this same dog, with the workers in the backyard because of so much damage at our house, she went through a plate glass window, almost cut her toe off and had lacerations on her stomach! Oh, and that plate glass window was replaced too.
Glad your pup is doing better and should heal up in no time. After getting my Maple stitched up, she did really well too. |
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everbell Kanata, ON
 MH Posts:3166


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| 01/05/2011 5:47 AM |
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Oo poor Katy! I am NOT showing this to my husband or he will worry every time we take the dogs in the woods (bad enough already)! Lots of hugs and kisses for Katy! Heal fast girl! |
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Joce and Rich Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs) Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats) The Everbell Adventures |
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JMSGunner Bucks County, PA
 MH Posts:785


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| 01/05/2011 5:57 AM |
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| Feel better Katy! |
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Jackie & Gunner
Impressive Gewehr von Catskill 4/19/2010
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MOOSE1 Fruitport, MI
 MH Posts:1789


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| 01/05/2011 6:06 AM |
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| WOW. That is a doozy. Glad she is doing ok. Please keep us posted on her progress. From the picture it is hard to see the skin that could be stitched back on though. Healing thoughts your way. |
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Rajah-APBT- USUV UMJCH Flying High Rajah-TDI Certified Phoenix-GSP- USJCH UWP GRCH BNJ Shooters Rising Phoenix-CGC Tested Cody- GSP- AKC/CKC CH UKC UWP GRCH Legacyk n Estate Sunray Minor FDJ CGC Tested Tucson-UJJ CH Legacyk FlwrCrk The Old Peublo Rumor-UMJ URO1 GRCH BNJ Rumor Has It-RN RD CGC NA II
www.ezydog.com |
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Splat Illinois (Northern)
 MH Posts:3136


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| 01/05/2011 7:07 AM |
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| oh poor pup...though it does look like a clean tear and it looks nice and red with no gunky oose right now so it is clean right now...I wish her a quick recovery and I hope you can get the rest you need too... |
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singltrak Las Cruces, NM
 MH Posts:1149


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| 01/05/2011 7:35 AM |
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Gotta love those field injuries (NOT!). Things like this give me cold chills, but you are so right Rob, they are oblivious to most everything when out hunting or trialing. Such stoic little spirits. Sending good wishes for positive healing for Katy (and for you too...get some sleep when you can!) Phyllis and the Singltrak Furtribe |
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Look to the Past, Breed for the Future |
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Rob Hopkins New England
 MH Posts:89


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| 01/05/2011 8:29 AM |
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Thanks folks........... bandages were changed out last night at the Vets'. Everything is still looking nice & clean- no sign of infection, good skin adhesion, a few more sutures put in and re-applied a wet-to-dry gauze pack over the open skin. The vet didn't pull the skin taught as she didn't want to put that kind of "pull" on the sutures. She told me the open skin will "granularize" and heal up just fine.
My wife reports that as of this morning, Katy is returning to her chipper, impish self.......... albeit with an elizabethian collar on! 
She ate this morning, pooped last night & seems to be on the right path. Thanks for all your kind thoughts. Apparently, it was more stressful for me than I think it was for her! I'm shutting her down for a month- nothing but walks on a 6 foot lead.
Rob |
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May all your dog's points be productive....... |
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MelB
 MH Posts:1217


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| 01/05/2011 9:36 AM |
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| Oh holy cow!! That looks wicked nasty and sore as heck to me. Thank God it sounds like these type of injuries heal well, but OMG I'd have been a blubbering idiot if I discovered that on my dog. They'd have needed an ambulance for me too |
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unowhoandwhy Middleofnowhere, NH
 MH Posts:1805


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| 01/05/2011 9:45 AM |
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| Poor dog, yikes! Glad it is healing well! |
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Daniel Yankee Flyer - 8/2002 Lady Layla - 1/2006 |
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tkparker69 Wentzville Missouri
 SH Posts:41


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| 01/05/2011 11:16 AM |
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| Birdie and I wish Katy the best and I am sure she'll bounce back in no time at all. As for you take care. |
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matt4126 powhatan va
 MH Posts:69


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| 01/05/2011 12:43 PM |
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| This is a good reminder of how fast these dogs can get into something. I was woodcock hunting this morning and as River was hopping over downed trees I thought about an injury such as this. I wouldn't want to have to carry him much distance. Here's hoping to a speedy recovery. |
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everbell Kanata, ON
 MH Posts:3166


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| 01/05/2011 1:07 PM |
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| Hmm ... maybe i should suggest that my husband throw a small tarp in his backpack when he takes the dogs out in the forest. You could use a couple strong tree limbs and use it as a travois. (Just ONE of the reasons I make him carry a cell phone ...) |
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Joce and Rich Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs) Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats) The Everbell Adventures |
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Marie Wisconsin
 MH Posts:2721


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| 01/05/2011 3:16 PM |
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So sorry and hope Katy heals fast and tolerates with high GSP energy to keep it down low on the end of a 6 foot leash. Wish there was protective belly coat hunt wear for our GSPs who do not have much fur on the underneathe. Prayers for fast healing coming Katy's way!! |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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