My dog has a sudden hole on its leg. What's the reason and what to do?
Poor Twinkle! From the pictures, it appears that he does have a full-thickness puncture wound. While bite wounds are the most common causes of these types of punctures, it is also possible that Twinkle sustained an injury from sharp material, such as a fence, or from a ruptured tumor under the skin. It would be ideal to take Twinkle to his vet for further evaluation, because some of these wounds require surgery to assure that the tissue under the skin has not been extensively damaged. Additionally, it is likely that Twinkle will require a course of antibiotics since it is likely that this wound will become infected, if it has not already. Your vet will be able to prescribe pain medication, if necessary, but do not give him human pain medications, as many are unsafe for dogs. Until you can get to the vet, try cleaning the wound with dilute betadine or chlorhexidine antiseptic solutions, taking care to rinse well. Be sure to keep an e-collar (cone) on Twinkle until his vet visit to prevent him from licking the wound, as this will worsen any infection. I hope this helps and that all goes well!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025