My dog has a bloody head wound. How did it happen? What to do?

I have a few ideas in my head as to what this could be. Woody may have a boil or skin infection that has ruptured or come to a head. It seems less likely but a wart or other skin mass could have outgrown its blood supply and broken open. I would advise to wash it with an antibacterial soap once daily for 3-5 days. Apply a topical antibiotic to it twice a day. If it heals up, good. It was probably a minor infection. If it doesn't heal, make an appointment to have him seen at the vet for an exam. Please post again if you have any further questions!

This presentation could be due to a trauma (bite wound) and/ or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be continued at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths (twice daily). I would recommend to shave fur around the wound (clippers are best as if you do it with scissors you may injury him) to be able to clean the area best as possible. After cleaning you can dry it up and apply any cream containing zinc oxide (like sudocream). Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

It is good that you have Harry wearing an e-collar to prevent further damage. It looks like he may have a hot spot. They can come up very quickly. To try at-home treatment, the first step is to clip the hair away from the skin so it will dry out, is easier to clean, and so you can monitor the progression. You need to use electric clippers, not scissors or a razor, to safely remove the hair. Second is to gently cleanse and disinfect the area. You can use a chlorhexidine wound scrub to gently scrub the wound, rinse thoroughly with water. It is important to keep this out of Harry's eyes as it is unsafe. Third is the treat the skin. You can use an ointment like neosporin or a medicated wipe like Dechra MalAcetic HC Wipes which is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. If you do this at-home treatment for 48 hours and the skin appears worse, Harry seems painful, or there is excessive discharge, I recommend that Harry see a vet immediately. Other possible causes for his skin issue that are not a hot spot include fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. Here is a good article about hot spots, including information on when at-home treatment can be tried: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2714

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian. The hair will need to be shaved to see the extent of the lesion. If she does not have a history of a traumatic wound, she could have an infected tooth. This can create an abscess under the skin that can rupture open. Her veterinarian will examine her and determine the best course of treatment. I hope this information helps!

You can put an antibacterial cream on it 2-3 times a day for a few days and just monitor it, if it seems to be getting worse - take Ace to your vet in order to get it checked and treated as it may be a fungal or parasite related lesion as well.

Weird! This looks like a small puncture wound from playing outside or with another animal or could be from where a tick was previously located or a minor spider or bug bite. Without seeing it in person, it is difficult to say for sure. First, I would make sure he is unable to lick it. If he can, I would put a cone collar on him to prevent this or it will never heal. You can also put a little Neosporin on it twice a day to help it heal. If it has any pus coming from it or it isn't healing, I would have your vet take a look to ensure he doesn't need any oral antibiotics or other treatment. I hope this helps!

Poor guy. Yes you can put diluted Betadine 50:50 with warm water on it to antiseptically cleanse the area. Hopefully it will heal over the next few days. You may also have to clip the hair around it to prevent debris from the hair from contaminating it, which can lead to infection. If it does get infected, then he will need to see a vet for oral antibiotics and debridement of the area. If the cut is too deep, then he may need stitches.