My dog was cut by scissors while grooming. What should I do?

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Max! This happens a lot when owners trim their dogs or cats hair, especially if the fur is matted. It should have stitiches placed. I would recommend that you take him to a Vet. They hopefully could do it with a local block quickly if he has a calm temperament. I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery for Max

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am afraid that this is an open wound and will require further local therapy with debridement, cleaning, stitches, antibiotics and pain control medications. I recommend that you have Coco evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment as these wounds are painful and can get infected easily. Good luck!

Thank you so much for giving us more detail. Of course, we can't tell for sure, but that looks like a small tear or cut which could have happened from a kennel edge, scissors, clippers, or a sharp edge of a table, etc. I would expect more tearing or bruising if it was a dog bite. The wound looks clean, but I would still recommend an antibacterial cleaner/wash since there is likely bacterial from the skin that has gotten into the wound. Most of the time, that is all we recommend for small wounds like that because they will heal well as long as they are kept clean and protected. Depending on where the wound is, you may need to use an e-collar or shirt to keep it protected and keep Sonny from licking at it since that may cause it to get infected. If at any point the wound is red, swollen or oozing a yellow or green discharge, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine it. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and Sonny heals quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Ouch, poor Macchiato. It happens, I've done it myself. I would gently clean the wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. 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!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Shu! I have seen this many times. It really depends on how deep the wound is. If it deep then sometimes it needs to be closed with staples, stitches or surgical glue. If it is not full thickness then it could scab over on it's own. Be sure she can't lick the wound and keep it clean. You can always post a picture, I wish you the best!

Wow, that looks quite deep, and Roxy needs to see a vet sooner rather than later. Gently clean the area with warm water and antiseptic soap. Keep it clean and dry, and prevent her from licking it with an Ecollar. Get her into a vet as soon as you can. Best of luck.

If the wound is deep, ideally, your dog should be physically examined by a veterinarian. Sutures (stitches) may be needed to close the cut. If it is superficial, you may be able to manage it at home. I suggest carefully trimming (use clippers, not scissors) the hair away and cleaning the area gently with a diluted Betadine, chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) or similar [antibacterial solution](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs). Dry thoroughly afterwards. A dab of a triple antibiotic ointment can be applied to a minor wound. Place an [e-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone) on your dog to prevent licking. If the wound shows no signs of healing after a few days, consider an exam with your veterinarian. Monitor for lethargy,[ fever](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever), [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/), [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/diarrhea-1/) or loss of appetite. Check the wound daily for redness, swelling, bleeding or discharge. These are all symptoms that warrant a visit to the veterinary clinic. In the future, it is always best and safest to have an [experienced groomer](https://www.petcoach.co/article/heres-why-you-need-a-professional-groomer) or your veterinarian remove any burs or matting from your dog.