Can I treat my dog's deep wound at home, or does it need stitches?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the photo you provided, it appears as though Stitch has an abrasion that may be secondarily infected. It does not look very deep based on the photo. If you are unable to get to a veterinarian to have this looked at right away, you can use a diluted solution of betadine and saline (mixed together until you have a light brown liquid) and use this to clean the abrasion of any contaminants. Once clean, you can then use a topical cream such as Sentry Topical Wound cream (applied to the area twice daily until resolved) found at your local Petco. I would also recommend that you use a plastic cone around his head to help prevent him from rubbing his head, which would further worsen the area. If this does not improve or it worsens, I would then recommend having a veterinarian examine Stitch so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns ad I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Zeus! Ideally I think he does need stitches. Sometimes the Vet can out stitches or staples in awake with local anesthesia like lidocaine. Either way, a Vet should examine the wound and provide antibiotics. It is a small wound and wouldn't take long to close with stitches. I hope this helps and I wish Zeus a speedy recovery!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Duffy. If the wound is deep and/or long, then you need to take him into a vet immediately for stitches. If it is shallow and superficial, then you can treat it at home. I would gently clean his wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. 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 he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

It would heal better and faster with stitches. If you cannot afford to have that done then just keep it clean with this wound spray linked below. DO NOT use hydrogen peroxide on it - that will actually delay healing. If after a week it is not looking better or if it gets red, swollen, has pus coming from it then you will need to get him to the vet. If he is licking it, it will not heal so you will need to get him a cone collar to wear. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs ) ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar )

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not possible to know this just based on a description. It does though sounds concerning enough that warrants an evaluation by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to look at the wound up close to determine if stitches are needed. Also, antibiotics and pain control medications can be prescribed at the time as these wounds tend to be painful. Good luck!

It's a bit difficult to tell from these pictures, but it does appear deep and wide enough that it will need stitches. It's best to take him to a vet soon, because the wound will heal better the sooner it is cleaned and stitched. For now, you can flush the wound using a syringe or other dispensing device with warm water for five minutes. This may not be easy, because dogs tend to hate water getting near their face. I recommend having someone help you with holding Wish to make sure the wound gets flushed well. Infection is the biggest concern with these wounds; so after flushing, it's best to apply an antibacterial cream to the wound. Your vet will be able to advise further treatment after evaluating it. I hope that helps and Wish gets better soon.

I'm glad Thor is back! I can see some blood and white discharge from the wounds, but these could be caused by bite wounds or any other type of trauma. It is possible that a bullet can be lodged somewhere and set up an environment for infection, so an x-ray can determine if a bullet is present. If the wound is from a bite, Thor will need to be seen by a vet to make sure that he was not infected with rabies from a while animal. I recommend having Thor seen by a vet to make sure that neither of these is the case, Depending on your region, x-rays and wound care are relatively inexpensive. In the meantime, I recommend very gently clipping the hair around the wound so that you can see it better and keep it clean. Any redness, swelling, or discharge is an indication of infection, which can require antibiotic treatment or closure with sutures. An E-collar or "cone" will keep Thor from licking/chewing the area and making it worse. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!