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lab nail injury

19 11:11:44

Question
QUESTION: my lab came in last night with 2 bleeding feet and 4 missing nails--we bandaged them and stopped the profuse bleeding.  She seems fine in that her nose is cool and wet, she is calm, has no fever, and her tail is wagging, but she has yet to go to the bathroom or eat or drink.  I took her out this morning and she limped but went willingly but then lay down on the grass and didn't go to the bathroom.  My concern now is not the nails but her not going to the bathroom or eating.  How long can this last before I should get worried?

ANSWER: Go ahead and get her to the vet.  What happened?  She could have internal injuries needing prompt treatment.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well thanks, but if I could lift a 100 lb dog that refuses to help, or afford it right now for that matter, I would have already done that instead of asking for the answer to my question of how long she was safe not going to the bathroom or eating.  

Incidentally, I am not 100% sure what happened except that she obviously has no other injuries at all--if I were to give an educated guess, with our part of the country and the fact that they are way out in the country, I would say she probably got into a trap, running and put her back feet into it.  

She is very alert, awake and friendly today but is in obvious pain when her back feet get pressure on them so she absolutely does not want to squat (or jump in my truck etc...)  I gave her a shot of pennecyln (spelling?) and a shot of tetnus and she is not bleeding or bothering with her bandages at all except an occasional sniff and sigh.  Tail wagging and licking my hand but I cannot get her in the truck as she weighs as much as me and is incapacitated.

Answer
Check her gums.  If they are white, she may have internal bleeding.  If nice and pink, she may not be in too bad of shape.  I am not sure how long a dog can go without eliminating.  If she is OK except for her feet, I doubt she will go over night without having to go.  You may want to have her on an old blanket if you can.