My dog was attacked at the park. How to treat wounds & stop fights?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Keep the wound clean and dry. You can use just a damp cloth to clean the wound if needed. I would not recommend using any appointments or peroxide is that can cause worsening irritation. It will probably heal up just fine, but if you notice any swelling or discharge I recommend that does it to rule out infection or need for antibiotics.

Thanks for using PetCoach. Unfortunately, without an exam (or at least pictures), I'm a bit limited on what advice I can give. Where the wound is would be important to know. I am less concerned about a bite to the leg than I am to the belly or neck. How deep is it? How is Della Reese feeling? Is she eating and running around or lethargic and not eating? My concerns and recommendations -Infection - very common in dog bite wounds - if there is a hole or deep wound anywhere, it needs to be flushed very thoroughly with dilute iodine or hydrogen peroxide. This is possibly the MOST important step. The wounds need to be left OPEN to drain. If you cover them up tightly you will be trapping the bacteria inside and cause an abscess. They will drain some blood-tinged fluid for a few days but it shouldn't be pure blood. If the mess is a problem, put a t-shirt on her (if wounds are on the torso) or keep her on tile/laminate surfaces. Warm compress the wounds twice daily to encourage that fluid to come out the wound holes. Honestly, depending on the severity and location, she really needs antibiotics. Even if you can only get into the vet for the exam and antibiotics, its worth doing. - Blood loss- as noted above, you're more-likely seeing blood-tinged discharge stuff than actual pure blood. Even if there was pure blood at first, she is big enough that she could safely loose a cup of blood or more. - Pain medication - motrin (ibuprofen) is an unsafe drug choice for dogs and is not recommended. If she has only had one dose, stop and switch her to aspirin 24 hours after the first dose. If she has had more than one dose, stop and start aspirin 72 hours from the last dose of motrin. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/aspirin/ Also don't forget ice!! Ice has incredible anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Ice up the wounded area(s) for 5-10 minutes as often as you can (up to every 3-4 hours). If it's time to warm compress, do that first and then ice. I hope this has at least given you a place to start. Best of luck to you and Della Reese.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I highly recommend that you have both of your pups evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. These wounds can get infected very easily. Also, it is crucial to check if any of these wounds need further local therapy such as stitches. Your veterinarian could also start pain medications as usually lacerations like that are painful. Good luck and have a good day!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear and see Cheech has been injured. Unfortunately, dog bites can deteriorate very fast after the bacteria introduced into the skin and deeper multiply and cause problems. You should get him to a vet in your area for evaluation and treatment. Surface cleaning is important but bacteria have been drawn deeper into the skin and what is called the subcutaneous layers of the body. That infection can then spread and cause swelling, pain, and other problems that can rapidly deteriorate. Plus any type of bite like this, whether it from a dog/cat or some form of wildlife where the rabies status is unknown, a rabies booster should be administered to boost immunity. Your vet can evaluate the injuries and then advise treatment which sometimes will involve sedation/anesthesia due to extreme pain when treating. They can then start treatment which can include antibiotics, anti inflammatory meds, pain meds, topical wound care, E-collars to prevent self mutilation, etc. Again I would seek vet care immediately for Cheech. He will feel much better and so will you. Good Luck

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Gracie! It’s tough to be certain of the severity of her wounds without examining myself, but fortunately those wounds don’t appear to be too serious from the photos. I think it’s unlikely that she’ll need stitches. However, bite wounds tend to get infected, so I would bring Gracie in to your vet when they open tomorrow, as they’ll likely want to start her on antibiotics. In the meantime, keep those wounds clean by gently washing them with warm soapy water (Dawn dish soap works well). I hope this helps and she feels better!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This sounds serious and warrants a veterinary evaluation as soon as possible. There is usually even more trauma than what you can appreciate in cases of dog fights. There may be cuts that need suturing, wounds that need antibiotics and the need for pain control medications as it sounds like he is very sore. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to evaluate him to look at the extent of his injuries so therapy can be recommended accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!

I recommend cleaning all of the wounds with hydrogen peroxide. Then apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on them. Keep him quiet so he can rest and heal. Dog fight wounds get infected easily so please make sure to bring him right in tomorrow morning for treatment. If needed they can close the small laceration and get him on oral antibiotics to prevent infection. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dexter.