Dog bumped jaw: What pain relief can I give him? Is a vet needed?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sam. Poor boy! Unfortunately there are no OTC pain relievers you can give him. Many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. You can try putting a cold compress on his neck where he got the bite to see if that helps with his pain. Have him seen by a vet first thing in the morning. Best of luck.

Charlie is adorable! Thank you for posting a picture of her. If the cut is not open or bleeding and is padded with a bandage, Charlie may not be painful. Many over the counter human pain medications are not safe for dogs and some interact with pain medications that your vet may give you, so I would not recommend giving her any over the counter medication until you talk to your vet. As far as the wound, it sounds like you have done everything right. The most important thing is keeping the cut protected which you have already done. Make sure that the bandage stays clean and dry. If any moisture gets under the bag and the bandage gets wet, then it needs to come off right away because it will actually make the cut more likely to get infected. If the cut is starting to heal, I will often change to a dog bootie or shoe to prevent problems with bandages getting wet. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oh my. This looks like a pretty serious injury. Your poor fur baby needs to see your local vet to have this wound managed well. The only thing you can do over the counter is to flush the wound with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water and then sterile saline daily. The vet will investigate this area to see if any stitches or staples need to be placed and also get your poor baby on oral antibiotics (ie Clindamycin) and anti-inflammatory medicine (ie Rimadyl). Without proper closure and antibiotics, this wound will likely not heal well. Here is a financial resources website link if you need financial help as well. http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html I hope that she/ he heals up soon. Best wishes and take care.

It could be that Charlie is sore from getting hit by your other dog, and I would rest him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Ouch, poor Koda! Unfortunately, there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs. Koda's vet will be able to prescribe any necessary medications. You can try placing a warm compress on the lesion periodically to temporarily provide a bit of relief until his appointment later this morning. I hope that he's feeling better soon!

Ideally, he should be seen by your veterinarian. Potential infection and pain are concerns that should be addressed by a vet. A rabies booster may also be considered. If a vet visit is not possible right now, place an e-collar (cone) on Simon to prevent rubbing or pawing. Keep the wound clean with a diluted Betadine or Hibiclens solution, being careful to not get any in his mouth. Monitor for redness, swelling, active bleeding, discharge, fever or loss of appetite. This are all symptoms that require veterinary attention. Unfortunately, there are no completely safe OTC products that can be given for pain. Many or toxic to dogs or easily overdosed.

Poor Viper! I don't recommend giving over the counter pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol as these can have serious side effects in animals. It will also limit the type of pain medication that your veterinarian can prescribe and may result in Viper not getting adequate pain control. Unfortunately there is nothing over the counter that can be given to dogs for pain control, so if he is acting very painful, I would recommend taking him to a vet tonight if you can. If you are unable to, I would recommend taking him as soon as you can tomorrow. Most bite wounds will get infected and they almost always need oral antibiotics. The veterinarian will also make sure the wound isn't worse than it looks. Bite wounds can appear small on the surface, but can penetrate deeper than what we see or tear the skin from underlying tissue so that a pocket is created under the skin. These pockets can fill up with blood or pus and need to be drained. Good luck and I hope that Viper is feeling better soon!