Dog cut paw in woods, bleeding. When is a vet visit truly needed?

If your dog is not bearing weight on the foot then this warrants a visit to the vet as the foot must be quite painful and the cut may be deep enough to need antibiotic treatment. The vet will determine this based on their exam.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It depends on the location and severity of the cut as to how it would best be treated. Sometimes they can be closed, other times bandaging may be best. Ideally wounds should be addressed as quickly as possible to allow for optimal healing. Waiting another day may make closing the wound impossible if it's an option. Make sure that Moose cannot lick the wound, this may require an e-collar (lampshade cone of shame). If it is painful or continuing to bleed he should be seen tonight.

Kali needs to see a veterinarian. She is going to need pain medication, antibiotics and a bootie. I would also recommend an Elizabethan collar so she doesn't lick at this. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

These type of injuries are often due to a puncture between the toes. Sometimes the thing that punctures the toes stays under the skin. This commonly happens with thorns and grass awns. In both cases, an infection develops under the skin and will not heal until the source of infection is removed. Lioh's injury does appear to be infected from what I can see in the photos and it will be best to take him to the vet for treatment. For now, you can try doing a twice daily foot bath with Epsom salts to help decrease the swelling and help treat the infection. Just make sure that he doesn't drink the Epsom salt water, or it will make him sick. I hope that helps and Lioh gets better soon.

I am sorry to hear about your pup! Ideally we would use a chlorhexidine soap while being careful not to get it in the eye. You can purchase this at most drug stores under the trade name Hibiclens or the store may have a generic version. After cleaning you can apply a topical antibiotic ointment and monitor the area for increased bleeding, swelling, or yellow/green discharge which can be a sign of infection and veterinary care will be needed. If you discover the wound gets larger/appears to open up after cleaning then sutures (stitches) may be needed by the vet.

Hello, Dogs with heartworm may cough with or without phlegm. The best way to test for heartworm is with a small blood sample. That cut on the paw pad is very deep. Ideally, I think she should see a vet for it now. Clean the wound with warm saline before applying the topical antibiotics and bandage. Do this twice daily until healed for the best possible results. If her foot gets swollen, starts having green discharge, or she stops being interested in food, it may be a sign of a serious infection that requires a vet visit and oral antibiotics. I hope that's helpful!

Ouch poor Delilah, that looks quite painful! She won't put weight on it because it hurts her a lot and unfortunately there are no OTC pain relievers you can give her. Many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Yes in this case, she does need to see a vet for this. I would take her into a vet now. I hope you are ok after the hurricane!