My neighbor's dog has exposed bone in injured paw. What should I do?

I am sorry to hear about Brownie May. She needs veterinary attention right away, this is a very serious wound and if treatment is postponed then she could be at risk of needing more extensive surgery. It is likely infected and also very painful. Imagine if your hand had the skin ripped off and bone exposed, you would be headed to the emergency room. I would look into finding a vet office that can take payments, apply for Care Credit, or borrow money from a friend or family member to have her seen. This is an emergency. You can find more info on resources for affording veterinary care at: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care

Such a deep wound with the bones and tendons exposed requires surgical attention from a vet. Contact your nearest clinic or animal welfare charities for a full assessment as soon as possible. Severe infection of the bones could lead to loss of the leg if not treated appropriately

You can strongly recommend to the owner that he/she bring the cat to their veterinarian for an exam. That paw looks painful and possibly infected. The cat will need an exam, x-rays (to diagnose fractures), bloodwork, antibiotics and pain management. An e-collar (cone) will prevent licking and chewing. You can't legally do anything since you are not the rightful owner. If you do, you risk litigation if the cat takes a turn for the worse. If there is no owner, contact your local animal control officer or humane society.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This sounds serious and warrants a veterinary evaluation as soon as possible. There is usually even more trauma than what you can appreciate in cases of dog fights. There may be cuts that need suturing, wounds that need antibiotics and the need for pain control medications as it sounds like he is very sore. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to evaluate him to look at the extent of his injuries so therapy can be recommended accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!

This type of severe weight loss is known as cachexia and is usually associated with a bad disease such as cancer, diabetes or kidney failure. The swollen toe could possibly be a tumor. It sounds like your neighbor needs to take the dog to the vet soon. It would be good to approach your neighbor respectfully and let them know that you are very concerned about the dog. They may have taken him to a vet already and know what's going on. If they don't know what's going on and consider it a normal part of aging, then let them know that a veterinarian told you it could be one of the serious diseases I mentioned. If they still seem hesitant, then you may offer to take her, or offer to take her to a shelter (she would have to sign the surrender forms though). However, if you don't think your neighbor will respond well, you may consider calling Animal Control. That way you can remain anonymous and the officer can find out if there is a neglectful situation going on. I know it may seem harsh to have the dog taken away, but if that happens, then just know it will be the best thing for the dog. I hope that helps and all goes well.

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.

Hi and thanks for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Dog has stepped on glass. That can certainly cause paw pad lacerations. From the picture, it looks like he has been licking at it. My best advice is to take Dog to his veterinarian so the paw can be examined, smaller less obvious pieces of glass can be removed if still embedded in the paw pad, and bandaged properly. Dog may need to be on antibiotics as well as wear a cone for a few days until his paw pad has healed up. Best of luck!