Cut on neck - what to do….

[Splash2310]

We’re looking after a friends dog who has arrived (not from them) with three cuts on her neck. They look like potential bites from another dog.

I’ve been spraying with leucillin, and two are healing well, but the third is the largest, and seems to keep popping open. I’m limiting play as much as possible with my dog.

My question is, shall I leave it to air and keep treating with leucillin, or shall I cover it with a bandage? Would welcome any thoughts.

 

[skinnydipper]

View attachment 123355

We’re looking after a friends dog who has arrived (not from them) with three cuts on her neck. They look like potential bites from another dog.

I’ve been spraying with leucillin, and two are healing well, but the third is the largest, and seems to keep popping open. I’m limiting play as much as possible with my dog.

My question is, shall I leave it to air and keep treating with leucillin, or shall I cover it with a bandage? Would welcome any thoughts.

I would get it checked by a vet. Puncture wounds can introduce infection and can cause damage that you can't see.

 

[claret09]

get vet checked

 

[Clodagh]

How long are you looking after her for? I’d give it a good clean with boiled mildly salty water and see where it goes.
I wouldn’t bandage.

 

[nagblagger]

Does the owner know and what do they want to do?
Must admit if I was looking after a friend's animals I would always err on the side of caution and get professional advice.

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn’t bandage.

It’s difficult to see from the photo but I’d be inclined to clip it and flush with saline.

Then get a better photo over to your friend to see if they want a vet check. If in doubt then I’d say vet is a good idea.

 

[AmyMay]

I’d take it to the vet.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If it wasn't my dog, I would involve a vet sooner rather han later. If it were my dog and I didn't think it needed vet input, I would bathe with salt water (I tablepoon to 1 pint water) at least 2x per day. Puncture wounds need to heal from inside to avoid sealing in infection

 

[Splash2310]

Thanks all. I’ve given it a good clean and will leave it uncovered overnight to see if it dries out at all.

Will reassess tomorrow and speak to the vet. Obviously if there are any signs of infection/change in her behaviour in the meantime we’ll head straight there.

 

[AmyMay]

Thanks all. I’ve given it a good clean and will leave it uncovered overnight to see if it dries out at all.

Will reassess tomorrow and speak to the vet. Obviously if there are any signs of infection/change in her behaviour in the meantime we’ll head straight there.

Spend your friends money. They will thank you for it. I certainly would.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Vet, bites can get infected easily.

 

[Splash2310]

Just to clarify - I’m not actually sure it is a bite. The lady who looked after her before me said she had two small scabs, and stupidly I didn’t look until I got her home and was quite surprised at how big they were. She suggested she might have been playing rough whilst out with the dog walker.

Cleaned up, trimmed down (it actually looks a lot better now without the dried blood and matted hair - it doesn’t look deep but appreciate I am not a vet) and will speak to the vet and her owners tomorrow. Thanks everyone for suggestions so far.

 

[splashgirl45]

When my collie was bitten by a chocolate lab I took her to the vet as it was a puncture wound and they can get infected very easily… it cost the owner of the lab £70