Dog attacked, no visible injuries, acting strange. Should I see a vet?

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!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that your Yorkie got attacked by another dog. He could absolutely have injuries that you cannot see, either to his muscle or spine/neck. If he is moving slower, he may have neck pain that hurts him when he moves. I recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian at their next available appointment, so he/she can perform a physical exam and localize any pain. Your vet can prescribe pain/anti-inflammatory medications that help your pet be more comfortable. If you cannot get him to the vet, I recommend keeping him rested (ie restricted to a crate) so he cannot hurt himself further. I hope this is helpful!

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!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It is difficult to say for sure what the problem is since you are not able to find one particular area that is affected. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Bo to see if something can be found on a physical examination and then go from there in regards to diagnostics and treatment options. You could also monitor him for 24 hours and if there is no improvement, then schedule an exam with a veterinarian. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Coco is otherwise normal and there is no indication she is experiencing any pain, no real need to rush off to the veterinarian. However, if you notice she is tender or painful to the touch on the side of the collision, is experiencing breathing abnormalities, becomes lethargic or has a sudden decrease in appetite, I would recommend bringing her in to see her veterinarian for an exam and perhaps x-rays. I hope this helps!

In my experience, injuries like this often take a bit of time to manifest. Usually there is at least some soreness involved, and even though it doesn't sound like anything is broken, I would recommend a vet visit to be sure. It's kind of like straining something at the gym - you often don't feel the pain for several hours, and you vet can give him a bit of an anti-inflammatory pain medication to help him be more comfortable.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I highly recommend that you have both of your pups evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. These wounds can get infected very easily. Also, it is crucial to check if any of these wounds need further local therapy such as stitches. Your veterinarian could also start pain medications as usually lacerations like that are painful. Good luck and have a good day!