Scar on Nose

[Guest Anonymous]

Hello, I have a 5 month old female golden retriever. During our obedience class, the instructor's dog attacked my dog - tearing the skin off her nose in four places. Initially the wounds scabbed over the didn't look too bad. Now, a week later, they are bright pink and do not appear to be open. Do you think that they will heal like this and what should I be doing to assist in the healing process? At this point I am using Vitamin E oil and polysporn. Thanks for any advice you have to offer.

[courtnek]

it sounds infected....take her to a vet...for antibiotics...neosporin is useful, but you would have to have a collar on her so she doesnt lick it off...

[Guest Anonymous]

It will probably heal okay. great advice C.
A little more advice... find another instructor. He apparently isnt very good at his job if he cannot control his own dog from attacking a puppy!

[gooeydog]

Are there still actual wounds, or it it just scar tissue that you see? Scars on dogs' noses are often discolored (pink or white), but then "fade" as new skin takes place where the scarring is. It's also possible that the wound has closed and there is an infection under the surface of the skin from the bite. Were the bites punctures, tears, or scrapes? Punctures are more likely to become infected because the outside heals and infection can set in deep in the wound. Some signs of infection are the area around the wound being hot or warm to the touch, swelling, redness, and odor. There can be infection even without the above though, so if you have any doubts, get her to the vets. Usually, anything you put on the nose will be licked off, even with a muzzle on, so I would only use things to know to be non-toxic, unless you sit with her and keep her from licking at it long enough for some to soak in, then wipe the excess of (good luck :lol: ). If it is an infection (or you're not sure if it is), take her in to the vets, better to be safe than sorry, and an infection around so many organs (nose, mouth, brain) can cause a lot of problems.

[Guest Anonymous]

Thank you so much for all your advice. The incident occured on the sixth obedience class. There were 8 classes to be scheduled. The instructor's dog is a stray dog, approximately 11 years old, she adopted during the hurricane we had a couple of months ago. She knew the dog to be aggressive around younger dogs... but decided to bring him to class. It set up quite an anxious setting where everyone in the class avoided the area of the class that this dog was in. Even though my dog's nose was a bloody mess when she was bitten, the instructor quickly shrugged things off (after hitting her dog!!!) which didn't sit well with me. I called her the next day to express my concerns and advised that I wouldn't be completing the class if she intended her dog to continue attending. What worried me more, is that she did intend to continue bringing her dog but grudgingly agreed not to due to my concerns - calling me an 'over protective mother'. We have decided not to continue with these classes at all - which may set up some uncomfortable situations given that she works at my vet's office. The wounds look to be four long scrapes where the dog dragged his teeth. I am desperately hoping that they will heal although by the looks of it now, I am not overly hopeful. My breeder told me that the black pigment on a dog's nose rarely returns to its original state. We have a vet appointment scheduled, so I will be eager to get their opinon as well and to further verbalize my concern regarding the instructor they have hired. Thanks again for all of your advice and your quick response times.

Nicole and Riley [/img]

[kendalyn]

The instructor does not sound very responsible. I think it is very disconcerting to be taking classes from a person who cannot even control their own dog. I would not return either.

[courtnek]

Nor I. Nor would I return to an instructor who lacks simple common sense...if you have a dog aggressive to younger dogs and puppies, you dont bring it to the training sessions. To me, that would be obvious. If I was teaching an obedience class, I certainly wouldnt bring Freebee with....

:o

[gooeydog]

Good for you for putting the well being of your dog before the money you put out on the classes. I wouldn't have gone back after that either, especially since the instructor seemingly saw nothing wrong with putting others' dogs in danger by bringing her dog back after one incident, and showed no remorse for that incident. I wouldn't worry about what she says or thinks, she was at fault, not you, and you're simply doing your job and keeping your dog safe. Hopefully your pup's nose heals and the scarring is minimal, both physical and emotional.

[courtnek]

one other thing...

I know she works for your vet, but if it were me, I would make her pay the medical bills for your poor dogs nose. She didnt have the common sense to keep an aggressive dog away from yours..she not only shouldnt be training, but should be liable for tha damage.

Just my take...

[Horsefeathers!]

Nicole napisał(a):

I am desperately hoping that they will heal although by the looks of it now, I am not overly hopeful. My breeder told me that the black pigment on a dog's nose rarely returns to its original state.

Not to be the voice of doom and gloom, but it looks like you've already considered the possibility...

My black Lab was attacked by another dog about three years ago and got a very long, very ugly bite right down his snout. It healed cleanly, but despite very diligent applications of vitamin E, there is still a very prominent scar there, about 2-3 inches long. It does seem to stand out more in a black dog, I think.

I sometimes get so discouraged at "professionals" of nearly any animal related field, from grooming to training to even vets sometimes. My Lab also went through h*ll with a trainer once (in a therapy dog course!) whose idea of training a very eager to please dog was to basically choke him down with a prong collar. Not to get into the whole "there's a right way to use one" thing, he was virtually dragged and choked with it. That was the ONLY time that trainer had a chance to do that to him. I think you're right to discontinue training with someone so obviously lacking, not only in common sense and professionalism, but compassion and responsibility. I agree with others that this person should be made to pay any vet bills. If she refuses to be morally responsible, at least she should be held financially responsible.

[mouseatthebusstop]

I do not think much of the instructor, her own dog should be trained to perfection