My dogs are injured and depressed after a shelter stay. What to do?

Hello, and thank you for your question. It is difficult to see the nature of the injury from your photos, but it sounds like Bandit may have sustained an abrasion type of injury. I would recommend a visit to the vet within the next 24 hours to confirm the nature of the injury. If there is an open wound, he will require antibiotics. At minimum, he will require anti-inflammatory pain medication to keep him comfortable and help reduce any swelling. In the meantime, try to minimize his activity level (just out for bathroom breaks), and keep him on soft clean bedding. Keep his food and water close by his bed to allow easy access. I hope this helps, and that Bandit gets better soon!

Hello. Did the sitter ever notice the dog scratching? This could be an actual injury, or he could have scratched a wound because of an allergic reaction to something in the house, or possibly even from stress. This looks significant enough that I would recommend an evaluation by your veterinarian in case additional treatment or antibiotics are needed. I hope all is well soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Nate! I think an important first step is to have your Vet examine Nate. He could be painful at the site of the bite, despite no outward wounds. He could have neck (muscle) pain like whip lash or be generally sore. That could explain the lack of energy and slowly coming down the stairs. I strongly feel that you need to be sure he is actually healthy before considering this a new behavioral problem from being attacked. Most dogs aren't overly traumatized mentally after getting in to fights but it is possible. If your vet finds nothing wrong with Nate they can discuss anti-anxiety medications and behavioral modifications to help him get back to normal. Good luck!

Hello, I would recommend having your vet check your dog, it could certainly be behavioral but it could also be something medical going on by your description, such as an infection or a rash. Your vet will start with a good physical exam and be able to get some answers for you.

Hello. I am sorry to hear that Chulbul is having trouble. If bone is present then you need to have the tip of the tail amputated. Any vet should be able to perform this surgery. Also, antiboitics and pain medications are needed. Exposed bone means exposed spinal cord, and infection can travel up this quite easily. Loss of appetite means that he may have a systemic infection now. You need to get him to a vet, and get bloodwork to check for infection and get the tip of his tail amputated and surgical closed up properly. This is not degenerative myelopathy. The signs of that are different, and are unrelated to infection.

I am so sorry to hear that Felicia had this wound on her leg. I am sure it is very unsettling for you both. From the pictures you have provided it looks as though the wound may be deeper than appears, and thus may require a trip to the veterinarian. The wound appears to have been caused by a puncture, such as a bite, or perhaps if Felicia got caught In a Fence. These types of puncture wounds are often deeper and have caused more tissue damage then can be visualised from the surface. I bet would start by examining Felicia, and the wound itself. The wound would be cleaned and disenfected, the vet may need to sedate Felicia to debris even the wound, if necrotic or unhealthy tissue is present. The vet may chose to surgically close the wound with sutures or leave it open to drain and heal wiith scar tissue. The vet may also prescribe pain relief, anti-inflammatory medictaions and antibiotics to treat a possible infection, or prevent one. I would advise the seeing the vet within the next 24 hours. In the meantime you can continue keep Felicia as calm and rested as possible, and do not use any over the counter medications without the direct advice from your vet. I hope that this answer was helpful, and more importantly that Felicia feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.

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!