Chihuahua attacked: severe bruising appeared days later. Vet SOS?

If the bruising is accompanied by lethargy, swelling and lameness, then Chomps should be seen by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. X-rays may be indicated to diagnose or rule out fractures. A "simple" bruise with no other symptoms may resolve on it's own within a few weeks. Restrict activity to just leash walks for elimination in the meantime.

If the swelling came on suddenly, or is continuing to increase in size or discoloration, it is best to have the spot checked out by your vet. Darkening of the skin can also sometimes be caused by actual bruising, metabolic issues, and skin problems, so a complete exam of the area is best. Some tumors such as mast cell, lipoma and mammary tumors can appear as swellings/skin changes on the belly and should be examined by a vet, however these often appear as nodules rather than dirty/discolored areas.

Poor Cam! The bruising and blood shot eyes are probably due to the head trauma of the door hitting him. If he is acting normal (active and alert, eating and drinking fine, etc.) then it should be okay to monitor him at home for the next few days to make sure that he continues to do well. If he is acting lethargic, not eating, or seems dizzy or uncoordinated, these are signs of serious head trauma - in that case, he needs to be seen by an emergency vet right away.

Hello, Its hard to give you definitive advise, because this could be nothing or something. Most likely, t could also be a simple insect bite or minor trauma that resolves on its own within a couple of days. However, I'd recommend monitoring that bruise for any changes and the rest of his skin and gums for new bruising or bleeding. Mysterious bruises can be a sign of blood disorders. If Charlie experiences any additional bruising, bleeding, or changes in appetite or behavior, I'd recommend taking him to the vet right away. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Chico! I'm very sorry he was bit. If he can move it and it doesn't hurt to touch him, he may have been startled by the bite more than anything. I would have him seen by a vet in the morning for a health check to be safe, however. If he can't move it and/or it hurts for him to be touched, I would take him into a vet right away.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the circular, dark red, flat areas on Denim's skin. These definitely look like bruises, and can be caused by abnormal blood clotting. This can be caused by certain toxins such as rat poison, cancers, and inherent inability of the blood to clot. Your vet can run some quick blood tests to determine what is going on. I hope this helps and that all is well with Denim!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It does look like a large bruise. Dark, red colour of the skin is a normal feature of bruising. Please, monitor Chloe for a few days at home. Typically, a large bruise like this should decrease slowly in size and disappear in the next 5-7 days. However, if the area is painful to touch or Chloe is lethargic and not herself, you should take her to your local vets for an appointment.