My dog was bitten at the park. Should I take her to emergency vet?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear about Darby, I can imagine that was very scary for both of you! I would recommend having Darby seen by a veterinarian as soon as you can. Dog bite wounds can be very extensive, beyond what you can see on the surface. There can be significant soft tissue injury that you cannot see, and a wound that looks like a small puncture can actually have deep pocketing and tissue damage. Also, dog bite wounds are very prone to becoming infected, as the bacteria in a dog's mouth can infect your dog's skin and prevent the wounds from healing. Your veterinarian will likely want to sedate Darby so he/she can clip the hair around the wounds and clean them out. Based on Darby's physical exam, your veterinarian may also recommend x-rays to look for evidence of other trauma, such as lung contusions (bruises) or fractures. Your veterinarian can also prescribe pain medications and antibiotics. As a reminder, NEVER give dogs pain medication which is intended for humans, as they can be fatally toxic to dogs. Darby may be scared of dogs for a little while after this event, which is to be expected. I hope this is helpful, and good luck with Darby!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Natsu and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. Poor boy! My concern is the swelling I see on the bridge of his nose, and dog bites can become infected. I do think it's best for him to see the vet to get pain medication and antibiotics. I would take him into a vet now. I hope this helps!

Have Luna seen by a vet now. There could be internal injures from being bit by the pitbull, and only a vet can diagnose that. In addition, dog bites frequently become infected, and oral antibiotics are needed to prevent an infection. It's very important though to have her seen by a vet right away to make sure she doesn't have internal injuries, so that is what I think you should do. Take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Oh no, poor Jade! I would have her seen by the ER vet for this. I'm not sure how deep or long the cut is, and it may need sutures to close it up. If it is deep and long, food can get caught in it, leading to infection. She may also be painful from it, and might need pain medications. Please do not give her any human pain medications, many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Take her into the ER vet right away. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I am definitely concerned about Huerra's bite wounds. The wounds on her leg look deep, and I always recommend flushing and exploring bite wounds under sedation since often there is even more damage under the surface. I would recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian. They would be able to prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to prevent infection as well.

Poor Gracie! Depending on the size and depth of the wound, it may need to be stitched shut. She will also need antibiotics to prevent infection. In this case, I think it's best that she is seen by a vet right away. The vet can stitch the wound if needed, can check her for any internal damage from the bite, and can prescribe antibiotics as needed. I recommend taking her into a vet now. Best of luck.

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. It sounds like you have done all you are going to be able to do for her at home. I would recommend a visit to the emergency vet if there is one in your area, if not see your vet first thing in the morning as she is likely going to need oral antibiotics as well as pain medication, and should have the eye examined to be sure there was no damage to the eye itself. Continue to ice the area to help with pain and swelling until she is seen. You can take a bag of frozen peas or corn and wrap in a thin cloth/towel (don't put the ice pack directly on the skin with no barrier in between) for 5-10 minutes every few hours if she will tolerate this. Do not give any over the counter pain medication because these can be poorly tolerated by dogs and may cause more harm than good.