This section is from the book "Sporting Dogs. Their Points And Management In Health, And Disease", by Frank Townend Barton. Also available from Amazon: Sporting Dogs; Their Points and Management in Health and Disease.
Lacerated and punctured wounds are very common, more especially amongst sporting dogs, and this chiefly owing to the thickets, etc., they have to face during work.
Wounds and fractures are not uncommonly associated ; if so, the injury is spoken of as compound. The gravity of a dual injury is much greater than where either exists as a single one.
Gunshot wounds are not uncommon, and when examining such, a good deal of care is necessary. Sometimes the shots are simply lodged beneath the skin, and can be felt by rolling the skin beneath the fingers.
In other instances the flesh is penetrated, and, it may be, the internal organs injured.
Although shot may have penetrated the cavity of the chest, or the belly, it does not follow that the injury be of a vital nature ; in fact, the author's experience of gunshot wounds in the dog has been as a rule favourable, most of the dogs showing but little after effects.
If shot have passed deeply in, penetrating the chest, etc., no attempt should be made to interfere with the wounds.
When shots are lodged in tendons, etc., about the knee, they should be removed forthwith.
Lacerated or torn wounds will probably require sewing up; if so, they must first of all be thoroughly cleansed with some warm water, to which a little disinfectant has been added.
Special care must be taken to remove all irritating particles, and the hair ought to be clipped closely off in juxtaposition to the injury.
Severe bleeding must be arrested with cold water, or by touching the end of the bleeding vessel with the point of a hot iron, or through the application of a few drops of strong tincture of iron, tow, and a bandage.
A stout needle and boiled string can be used to sew up the wound.
A very common situation to find a clean-cut (incised) wound is upon the pads of the feet, caused by the dog stepping upon some sharp object, such as a bit of glass, flint, etc.
Put the foot in hot water and cover it with a pad of tow or lint, soaked in a little carbolic oil or other antiseptic liniment, bandage, and keep dog at rest for a few days.
A little compound tincture of myrrh is an excellent remedy for painting superficial wounds, so is boracic acid as a dusting powder.
Every kennelman should keep these handy in case of emergency, likewise tow, a bandage, and some antiseptic, such as carbolic acid, chinosol, etc.
 
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