We’re continuing to have a devil of a time with Tate’s incision, even after all this time.  There is still a raw spot, which has nearly healed up a few times but then we neglect his cone one time and he tears the scab off.  He’ll do it within minutes, like when we take his cone off to eat.  He’s obsessed with it, goes after it right in front of us.  Tate’s a very obedient dog, this is very, very uncharacteristic of him so we know it is really bothering him.

The vet is baffled.  We tried a spray and now he’s on an antibiotic and gabapentin.  Any thoughts or recommendations?

Maybe because you posted under Ask a Vet?

Janice,

Have you thought about cold laser therapy for Tate's wound? It works really well, especially for non healing wounds like his. I'm pretty sure it's available at Buffalo Grove Specialty Center. If not TOPs in Grayslake definitely offers it. My vet in the City isn't that far either.

A marginally low platelet count would likely cause more of a continuous oozing. This seems more like a mechanical disruption and the wound trying to heal by second intention. Isabelle had a similar issue after her second surgery, not from her actively disturbing the incision…although it definitely bothered her more than her amputation incision…but because it's location resulted in the wound pulling with normal movement. She got aggressive cold laser and it resolved. She also had quite a bit of laser post amp, which I strongly feel contributed to her quick healing and rapid resolution of any nerve pain. Many of the local surgeons are routinely referring dogs to my vet for laser after all surgeries.

I noticed Tate's wound at the beach & actually thought about mentioning laser therapy to you then. Let me know if you need anything.

Cynthia

Thank you SO much for the feedback!  I'm sure the low platelet is from the chemo, he's on CCNU and the oncologist said it may or may not recover.  Post-amp, it was 434, after chemo 1 it was 391 and after chemo 2 it was 70.  He just had chemo 3 last week.  The surface is continually damp, very white (or pink/red if he's been at it).

I called BGSC; they have cold laser but she is hesitant to do it on a dog with cancer.  She said there is divided opinion on whether it instigates cancer cell growth.  Rats!  Rick and I talked it over and decided against it.

She suggested "the loop", i.e., Assisi tPEMF but sounded a little doubtful.  Does anyone have experience with this for a wound?  I searched online but it seems it is more for bone, joint, tendon, etc.

What about acupuncture?  Power Mushrooms?  I'm grasping at straws here…

We ordered a Bite Not Collar, I hope he likes it better.