Confession, guilt, sorrow...Do Not read if you get queasy

Poor Sailor has been battling an open wound on his ear flap for over two years. It started with the Jack Russell swinging from his ear, as if he were an earring. Sailor would even lower his head so the midget could get a better grip. We would get the ear completely healed for several weeks at a time, only to have the wound reoccur. When we separated the dogs , they both moped and cried. I tired making Sailor wear a snood when he was out with the terror. The ear had been treated by the vet and stapled, more than once. Well, here comes the guilt and confession part. I got my daughter to help me by having her wrap the ear with vet wrap. We padded the ear with gauze and applied copious amounts of ointment. We were both proud of the job we did, as it was quite secure. Sailor never shook his head or tried to get the bandage off. On the second day, for some reason, I thought I should check the ear. When I unwrapped the ear, the stench hit... and I could tell some, if not all, of the ear flap was going to come off. I did triage on the ear and got him in with the vet (about half the flap fell off with running water). Sailor had surgery to remove the remaining dead flap, and is now on antibiotics. I am getting used to his little flattened rose bud of an ear. I have been hand feeding him cat food because that is all he would swallow. This evening I got him to eat Weruva canned dog food, and Nutri-Cal. He acts normal for a 13 and a half year old dog, but I am only allowing him to exercise with the cat. My daughter feels worse than I do about the whole incident. She did the wrapping, but I checked it. I did not take into account how fragile his skin has become. On a good note, like a typical Standard Poodle, he does not hold any grudges and is just happy to be back in my bedroom. in his own bed. I am so sorry for what we did to him, but I am also, so happy that he is alive.