My dog's ear is cut, red, and bleeding. Should I take her to the vet?

Hello. Hunter may require antibiotics for such a deep cut. I would visit with your veterinarian to see if this is necessary, especially before an infection sets up in the ear. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It's probably best to leave it alone for now. Ears tend to bleed a lot when they get cut, but it eventually stops and they don't bleed enough to be dangerous - unless he happens to have a clotting disorder. The more you wipe at the ear or agitate it, the more it will bleed. Also, hydrogen peroxide and other strong antiseptics can cause more damage than good, so it's best not to apply this to the wound. You can try cleaning the wound in 12 hours or so after the bleeding has stopped and he hopefully calms down. The first thing you should do is 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 Cruise 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. In order to keep the wound clean, it's best to flush the wound 1-2 times a day and gently wipe away any big crusts - make sure not to scrub the wound, because this can make it worse. Apply the antibacterial cream after each flushing. If the ear starts to swell or have pus oozing from the wound, then I'd recommend he goes to the vet for treatment. Otherwise, the wound should heal fine over the next 2-3 weeks. I hope that helps and Cruise gets better soon.

As you have already said, the blood you are seeing on Khloe's ear could be due to multiple reasons. We could be dealing with self inflicted bleeding due to chronic itching. If this was the case, there is most like an infectious or allergic process taking place that is causing this type of behavior. If you don't go to the vet, you will not be able to verify the presence of absence of an infection under a microscope. There are however several over the counter ear washes and flushes that can be used with antimicrobial / antifungal properties. However, be aware that the use of these products before the ear is inspected for a punctured ear drum can have significant consequences. Should you decide to use them, I would recommend at least a week of use. There should be directions on the bottle. If the bleeding was caused by trauma from a dog bite, systemic antibiotics should likely be administered to prevent and/or treat any infection. I would fashion Khloe with an e-collar to prevent any further damage to the ear that she might inflict out of discomfort. You can obtain one of these at a pet store, veterinarian, or even create a home made one (look for a video on Youtube). I hope you can help Khloe feel better soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely a hotspot which is a very inflamed focal infection. Usually these occur secondary to allergies, among other possibilities. It is very important to treat these infections appropriately and the sooner they get treated the better for the patient. I recommend that you have Buster evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They are likely going to prescribe anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics. In the meantime, you can use an e-collar (which you may obtain from your local pet store), to avoid further self trauma by him scratching at it. Good luck and have a good night!

He will be fine. You’ve already applied the medication so don’t clean it as you may break the scab and start it bleeding again. This is a common injury and it will heal in a few days to a week. I recommend using clippers rather than scissors to trim the fur as it’s safer. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Max.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it would be best to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Usually traumatic injuries like bite wounds can become worse with time if not treated appropriately. Also, sometimes the external wound is just the tip of the iceberg and there is more to it internally or locally. Dog bites can also result in infections and antibiotics are often recommended depending on how deep the wound is. Good luck!

It's not an emergency likely but it may need to be addressed. For bleeding lesions, apply firm pressure for 10-15 minutes. You can use hydrogen perxoide to clean the area one time but don;t use it more than that because it can impede healing. After that, use soap and water to clean the ear if it gets dirty but otherwise leave it alone. You need to prevent Reese from shaking her head and traumatizing the ear. Sometimes and elizabethan collar can help. This is is though the best product to prevent shaking the ear: https://www.noflapearwrap.com/?variant=1045913141273 Lesions on the ear tips are commonly due to fungal infections, vasculitis or fly bites. You can keep the ear clean and dry. Keep the ear protected from trauma. You can give Reese a supplement for omega 3 fatty acids for pets to help with inflammation. You can apply a tiny dab of organic coconut oil to the lesion 1-2 times a day and rub it in well. If the lesion is not improving within 5 days, if it starts looking worse or if it will not stop bleeding after 15 minutes, have Reese examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.