My Maltipoo has a bleeding cut or hole on his neck. What to do?

It's a bit difficult to tell from these pictures, but it does appear deep and wide enough that it will need stitches. It's best to take him to a vet soon, because the wound will heal better the sooner it is cleaned and stitched. For now, you can flush the wound using a syringe or other dispensing device with warm water for five minutes. This may not be easy, because dogs tend to hate water getting near their face. I recommend having someone help you with holding Wish to make sure the wound gets flushed well. Infection is the biggest concern with these wounds; so after flushing, it's best to apply an antibacterial cream to the wound. Your vet will be able to advise further treatment after evaluating it. I hope that helps and Wish gets better soon.

That heavy discharge generally indicates infection. Your pup will heal the fastest if he goes in to see his doctor. The doctor may give him a systemic antibiotic or may only give him topicals if the lesion is very small. Sometimes these pets can be itchy as well and will get medication for that too. You definitely want to make sure that he cannot itch or lick at that area as it will make it worse. The doctor will also shave the hair as it needs to be exposed to the air to dry up. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If the wound is deep, ideally, your dog should be physically examined by a veterinarian. Sutures (stitches) may be needed to close the cut. If it is superficial, you may be able to manage it at home. I suggest carefully trimming (use clippers, not scissors) the hair away and cleaning the area gently with a diluted Betadine, chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) or similar [antibacterial solution](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs). Dry thoroughly afterwards. A dab of a triple antibiotic ointment can be applied to a minor wound. Place an [e-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone) on your dog to prevent licking. If the wound shows no signs of healing after a few days, consider an exam with your veterinarian. Monitor for lethargy,[ fever](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever), [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/), [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/diarrhea-1/) or loss of appetite. Check the wound daily for redness, swelling, bleeding or discharge. These are all symptoms that warrant a visit to the veterinary clinic. In the future, it is always best and safest to have an [experienced groomer](https://www.petcoach.co/article/heres-why-you-need-a-professional-groomer) or your veterinarian remove any burs or matting from your dog.

Poor Lucky! I'm glad to hear that his vet will be checking him out tomorrow. From the picture, the skin lesion looks most like a hot spot (aka acute moist dermatitis). If you have clippers on hand, you can try to carefully trip the hair over and around this skin lesion to allow for better air flow. You can also gently clean his skin with an antiseptic solution, such as diluted chlorhexidine or diluted betadine, but be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly. If Lucky is scratching at his neck, it would be best to put an e-collar (cone) on until his appointment. The vet may need to prescribe antibiotics, steroids, or topical sprays to help this lesion to heal. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further trauma. Have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose infection or injury. Yoda may need both antibiotics and medication for pain or inflammation. If you can't take him just yet, clean the area with diluted betadine or chlorhexidine and place an e-collar on him. You can buy them in most pet stores. Monitor for resolution, but if gets worse or if he becomes lethargic or stops eating, get him to your vet.

Poor Faith! Depending on how recently this happened and how clean the wound is now, it's very possible that it would be a good idea to stitch this. At the very least, it's deep enough that it looks like it will need antibiotics to prevent infection. I would recommend taking Faith to the vet today to have this checked, if you can. He/she can trim the hair away from the area and flush out the wound, and will determine if it needs to be sutured or not based on how things look at that time. Your vet can also prescribe antibiotics and pain medication if needed.

It doesn't appear deep. If there is no active bleeding, clean it up with a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution. I see you have a triple antibiotic ointment. You can dab a bit on the area. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent pawing or rubbing. Monitor for lethargy, fever, bleeding, swelling, discharge or loss of appetite. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian.