Great dane toe

Question
Hello,
I have a one year old great dane that broke his middle toe, It does not seem to be healing the vet took and xray and he broke his first knuckle, the problem is he has a sore on the same pad that doesn't seem to want to heal can you help me? What can I put on it. He has already had a dose of antibiotics. He is active and other than spot bleeding it doesn't seem to bother him. There is still lots of snow on the ground here. Could that be irritating it? Thank you Mary

Answer
Yes, the snow and ice could indeed be irritating his pad. I would call the vet and pick his/her brain a bit about this, but what I would try would be to carefully put a sock over his foot and then put a baggie over that when he goes out so that the sore will be kept dry and not come in contact with the snow and ice. Try Vet Wrap or a rubber band around the top of this stuff to keep it on the dog's foot, but don't put it on too tightly! Remove it when he comes back inside.

Now one thing that I myself have used on a dog's pad is a product called "New Skin" or "Liquid Bandage" (one name in Canada and another in the U.S.). A pharmacist once recommended that to me when I had a dog with a sore pad that was going to be shown on ribbed matting over cement the next four days and I was afraid she was going to come up lame for me because of that. He told me that this is what they put on boxers (people) when a cut opens up on their faces. This stuff sort of resembles clear nail polish and dries somewhat flexible but hard. Blow on it a bit, but make sure it is totally dry before releasing the dog's foot. It worked like a CHARM on my dog!

NOW... that same weekend, being the intelligent person that I am<G>... I tried to open a package of lunchmeat with a sharp stripping knife and sliced my finger open. DUHHHH! A light bulb moment when I thought to put that same product on my finger<GGGGG>............ They probably could have peeled me off the very high ceiling in that arena. SURPRISE, IT STINGS! So be aware of that if you decide to put it on your dog. My dog gave no indication of that, but then my dogs are trained to let me do anything to them.