My dog's cut won't heal after 2 weeks, still bleeding. Infected?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection and/or irritation. For that reason, I think it would be best to have Kilo evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to look at this more closely so that therapy can be recommended. Best of luck!

Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further licking or chewing. This may be enough to allow for healing. Keep the area clean and dry. If it doesn't heal or if it grows or spreads, have Barnaby physically examined by your veterinarian. He may need antibiotics or further diagnostics, such as a fine needle aspirate or biopsy, if it is a lump or mass.

Poor guy. This is a laceration, and it looks like it may be deep. It needs to be cleaned with an antiseptic such as Betadine diluted 50:50 with water or Chlorhexidine solution diluted with water until a very light blue mixture. Then Izzy needs to be placed on oral antibiotics and possibly even suturing of this area so that the skin covers it and allows it to heal. It looks like it is already infected, and infected wounds don't heal, so antibiotics are a must. I would perhaps go to a second vet for another look at this or insist on your current vet treating this wound properly. I hope that Izzy's wound heals up well soon! Best of luck and take care.

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.

It looks infected but hard to tell how deep it is in the picture to see if stiches are warranted. The best things to do it clean the area with mild soap and water to get he scabs from the side off and help minimize the discharge. He will need to see your vet to see if it is deep enough for stitches or if it can heal on its own once the infection is under control. Antibiotics will be needed to clear the infection though, so the sooner he goes to the vet the better.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucky. Since the wound is not healing, I am concerned that he actually has a mass. I would recommend seeing his veterinarian for a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate. The veterinarian will use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. There is a benign growth called a histiocytoma that is common in young dogs. Unfortunately, there is also an aggressive form of skin cancer known as a mast cell tumor. This second mass has the same outward appearance as the benign growth. For this reason, it must be evaluated microscopically. I hope this information helps!