My dog is bleeding near her anus/tail after injury. What to do?

Poor Pixie! If the wound is small, she may be able to heal it on her own. Check to make sure there’s no evidence of any gaping or deep tears. Otherwise make sure to keep the area clean and dry. You must make sure she does not lick the area or cause further trauma. An Elizabethan collar worn at all times will prevent licking.Check it every day for redness swelling or discharge as this would indicate infection. Typical wound healing is 10 to 14 days. If something seems abnormal, make sure to have her examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry Samantha's tail was slammed in a dog! First off, you did exactly the right thing by taking her into the vet. The problem with tail wounds is that dogs wag their tails, putting the wound at risk of opening back up. If Samantha is wagging her tail, that's probably why you are still seeing a bit of blood. If it's only a bit of blood, then I wouldn't be concerned. If it's a lot of blood, I would be concerned, and then you should take her back into your vet. It's impossible to get a dog to stop wagging their tail, so I recommend putting a bandage over the wound where it's bleeding in an effort to stop the bleeding. Don't put the bandage on so tight that it restricts blood flow to the tail. Samantha may want to bite and chew at the bandage, so I would get an Ecollar from the pet store to prevent her from doing that.

Tail wounds can be difficult and frustrating to treat. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent any more chewing. Gently clean the tail, applying direct pressure with a clean cloth to stem any bleeding. When she is in the crate, offer a special toy or treat to keep her distracted. Make sure she has enough room to turn around so she isn't whacking her tail against the sides. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may decrease stress and anxiety if she gets worked up while crated.

It may be tricky as wounded tail keeps bleeding. So, if it is bleeding a lot you should apply pressure for a few minutes (5 minutes) on the tail until the bleeding stops. Then you may have to apply a bandage on the tail to prevent another bleed (it may start again if the dog starts to chew or lick the tail or even if he starts wagging the tail). Bandaging the tail can be difficult - you don't want to put too much pressure but on the other hand loose bandage will slip off. If it come to the worst you may have to take your dog to your vet to put a proper bandage on.

Based on the location (it appears to be just to the side and just below the anus), an anal gland abscess may have ruptured. I doubt it’s an insect bite, but I can’t rule that out completely. It could also be another type of mass such as a tumor or a foreign body (such as a grass seed) that’s burrowed into the skin and caused an abscess. Regardless, your instincts are correct; this likely needs to be treated with antibiotics. Put an E -collar (cone of shame) on him and make an appointment with your vet ASAP. Hope that’s helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Poor Buddy! If the cut is actively bleeding, you can use a washcloth or paper towel to apply direct pressure to help stop the bleeding. I would try to have him seen by a veterinarian this evening if possible, since he may need stitches depending on how severe the cut is. He may also need antibiotics to help prevent infection.

Poor Sassy! She could have injured herself causing the sore, or she could be very itchy leading her to bite in that area thus creating the sore. I would gently clean the sore warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep her from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on her. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and she will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!