Dog Ends Starter Pack

They can also be used preventatively to stop new wounds occurring. Dog Ends™ come in a Starter Pack containing an Applicator, mesh Dog Ends™ and a roll of medical tape.

Tail tip injuries are just one of those problems that you don't want to see.  Tiny wounds that just won't stop spraying blood – as soon as they heal, dogs wag their tails again, hitting the delicate tissue and continuing the cycle of bleeding, pain, tissue damage and scarring.  The problem is that these wounds are caused by constant impacts, not by infections – and you have to absorb the impact to heal the wound.

Tail tip injuries are normally treated in practice with a combination of different methods.  It is vitally important to intervene early in the disease process to obtain the maximum success rates, but at any stage of treatment, you should consider splitting the problem into the following components and try to manage each one: Infections are rare in early stage injuries but very common in chronic injuries, especially if bone is exposed.  It is good practice to take a swab for culture and sensitivity testing where infection is suspected; antibiotic choice can then be based on this.  Self trauma is an important component of the problem and must be controlled.  Elizabethan collars are useful, as are neck collars – more important is owner education to make sure that they stay on!Bandaging is a challenge.  These injuries often start as a tiny scratch or puncture wound that would normally heal without assistance.  The constant impacts on the area as the tail wags prevent normal wound healing.  Conventional padded dressings have a number of problems.  They are relatively heavy – making them hard to attach on to the tail without over-tightening attachment tape.  They also prevent wound ventilation which can be a problem when trying to control infections.  It is also very hard to get dogs to ignore a large swinging weight on the end of their tail.  Dog Ends™ were designed specifically for this situation.  They are a simple and effective mesh tube.  The tube weighs only 4 grams, meaning many dogs will just ignore their presence.  When applied using their supplied applicator, they are easy and quick to tape in place.  They overhang the tip of the tail – so that the mesh tube takes the impact rather than the tail – and the mesh flexes to absorb the impact.  The breathable mesh will act to reduce the risk of infection too.   Dog Ends™ are a simple answer to a big problem when managing these conditions.Maintenance of a hygienic wound environment is critical.  Dog Ends™ can be changed daily, or as required by the particular case.  Because they are made from a non-absorbent plastic they will not support further bacterial growth, and the mesh tube will not contract over time.  Conventional dressings should really be changed daily as the wound surface cannot be observed without a dressing change when covered with a bandage.  In exudative wounds, a sterile primary dressing can be gently taped over the wound bed and a Dog End can then be applied over the top to absorb the impacts.Deep tail wounds can be very painful.  Adequate analgesia is critical – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and topical local anaesthetics can all be useful depending on the requirements of the case.  Amputation or partial amputations are sometimes necessary if the wound has been left untreated for some time.  Remember that the surgical wound post-operatively can need protection for many weeks, otherwise the same problem often starts again, centered around the amputation site.  Dog Ends™ are effective for this and can also be split lengthways and taped onto the wound for high tail amputations where the tail diameter is very large.   Dog Ends™ are an effective management tool in this complex condition and are a simple way to eliminate the impact force issues that can make treating tail tip injuries painful and frustrating.
 Dog Ends™ protect tail tip injuries from trauma and aid rapid healing. Dog Ends™ fit over and overlap the end of the tail and are held in place by a small wrap of medical tape and the premium grade plastic mesh material takes the impact when the dog wags its tail. Unlike conventional fabric or solid dressings, the mesh will not absorb wound fluid and the open weave design ensures plenty of ventilation around the wound surface to promote clean healing. Dog Ends™ have been fully tested to ensure the ideal combination of stretch and strength and are easy to apply using the specially designed Applicator. There is no need for bandages, although when necessary, Dog Ends™ can be used to hold a simple wound dressing in place for first aid on a fresh wound.