My dog has a cut or scratch on her leg. Should I cover it to prevent infection?

Keep the wound clean with solutions (twice daily) as suggested in the previous answer. Please post a picture of it so we can have a look at the severity of the cut and understand if needs to be stitched up or not. Best usually to keep it exposed rather than bandage it (healing usually is faster). If you have some, triple antibiotic ointments like Neosporin would work (do not allow her to lick it off). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi there! Good job cleaning with plain warm water- that is perfect! That wound is fairly superficial and will likely heal just fine on its own. If it's dirty, just a simple wipe with warm water should be sufficient. I generally recommend keeping scratches like that open to air, so no need to use neosporin. If you already put some on her and she licked it off, there should not be any problems though. If you notice any swelling or green discharge, it may be a sign of an infection and time to call your vet. You're very welcome! I hope you have a great day as well!

Hi there. Usually, unless there is active bleeding, I tend to leave wounds open and uncovered to heal. Bandages can trap moisture and cause the area to get infected, and can also cause tissue damage if they become too tight. If Maeby is licking excessively at her paw, you can use an e-collar (plastic cone) to keep her from getting to it until it's healed over. Neosporin is okay to use topically on the wound to help prevent infection. If it hasn't healed within the next 4-5 days, or if you see any redness or swelling developing around it, then I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as she may need oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds to treat it more effectively.

This does appear to be a minor abrasion. You can flush the area with cool water once a day for 1-2 minutes to help prevent infection. Otherwise, this should heal fine on it's own and I would not recommend putting any ointments or antiseptics on it. I hope that helps and all is well with Bronson.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I am so sorry to hear that Felicia had this wound on her leg. I am sure it is very unsettling for you both. From the pictures you have provided it looks as though the wound may be deeper than appears, and thus may require a trip to the veterinarian. The wound appears to have been caused by a puncture, such as a bite, or perhaps if Felicia got caught In a Fence. These types of puncture wounds are often deeper and have caused more tissue damage then can be visualised from the surface. I bet would start by examining Felicia, and the wound itself. The wound would be cleaned and disenfected, the vet may need to sedate Felicia to debris even the wound, if necrotic or unhealthy tissue is present. The vet may chose to surgically close the wound with sutures or leave it open to drain and heal wiith scar tissue. The vet may also prescribe pain relief, anti-inflammatory medictaions and antibiotics to treat a possible infection, or prevent one. I would advise the seeing the vet within the next 24 hours. In the meantime you can continue keep Felicia as calm and rested as possible, and do not use any over the counter medications without the direct advice from your vet. I hope that this answer was helpful, and more importantly that Felicia feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.

Since she is able to lick it, it's not advised to put anything on it. The best way to ensure it stays clean and doesn't get infected is to flush the wound with clean water, or saline twice a day for five minutes. Flush the wound with a syringe using a good amount of force. She won't like it, so you'll probably need someone to help hold her. If the wound happens to get swollen, very red and/or is leaking pus, then it would be best to take Molly to a veterinarian for treatment. I hope that helps and all is well with Molly.