My dog has a wound on her face. What signs of infection to look for?

Poor Lucy! I'm seeing some discharge from her wound, but I don't think I see any pus. I would gently clean it 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. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

If there is swelling and it feels hot to the touch and painful then these are signs that infection is present (bite wounds/punctures are unfortunately prone to infeciton) and oral antibiotics are likely needed. I would make an appointment with your vet to get the wound examined. In the meantime, applying an ice pack to the area for 10 minutes every few hours may provide some relief to the pain (be sure to wrap the ice pack in a thin cloth/towel so it isn't directly on the skin).

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bella. Oh no, poor girl! That's not cool another dog bit her. I would gently clean her 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 and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Panda. I would monitor this closely. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, pain, discharge, and loss of function so if you notice this getting worse or other signs develop, take him back to have him re-evaluated. You can use some topical Neosporin or similar antibiotic ointment on the incision. Just make sure if doesn't contain hydrocortisone or a steroid. Good luck

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear this. Dog attacks can be quite stressful. The main problem with bite wounds is that you have to let the wounds declare themselves before knowing exactly what is going to happen at the end. It sounds like Zara's wound got infected and has now formed an abscess. She can develop a fever from this and this can make her feel quite sick. Also, it would be ideal to know the true extent of her injuries. For this reason, I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to prescribe medications for pain control and also antibiotics to treat her infection which is the only way it can resolve. Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

Poor Molly! You did the right thing by cleaning the cut off when you first noticed it. Yes, if it is looking a bit swollen and red, and she is blinking her eye more than normal, I would recommend taking her to the vet tomorrow to have this checked - these can be signs of infection, so it sounds like she may need a course of antibiotics to help resolve the problem.

I would be sure the Area is cleaned will with a mild soap or hibiclens soap (available at the drug store) and apply an antibiotic ointment such as neosporin several times a day. If his hair on his chin is sticking to the wound you may need to trim around it to prevent this. If the wound increase in size/swelling or develops a discharge then you should see a vet for examination. If during the fight either dog but the other then he should see a vet for an exam and avrabies booster if he isn't up to date on his vaccine. It would also be wise to discuss his new behavior issue (aggression) with his vet.