My dog's grooming cut is red. Should I be concerned about infection?

Thank you so much for giving us more detail. Of course, we can't tell for sure, but that looks like a small tear or cut which could have happened from a kennel edge, scissors, clippers, or a sharp edge of a table, etc. I would expect more tearing or bruising if it was a dog bite. The wound looks clean, but I would still recommend an antibacterial cleaner/wash since there is likely bacterial from the skin that has gotten into the wound. Most of the time, that is all we recommend for small wounds like that because they will heal well as long as they are kept clean and protected. Depending on where the wound is, you may need to use an e-collar or shirt to keep it protected and keep Sonny from licking at it since that may cause it to get infected. If at any point the wound is red, swollen or oozing a yellow or green discharge, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine it. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and Sonny heals quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Without seeing a picture of the cut it is hard to tell you what exactly you should do. If the cut is shallow and is less than 1 cm in size you could try to clean the area with a diluted chlorexidine or diluted iodine solution rinse and then apply triple antibiotic ointment. Use an e-collar to prevent licking. However, if the cut is deep or larger I recommend taking Rambo to a veterinarian as he may need antibiotics or sutures. Also, if you are concerned it is infected it would be a good idea to take Rambo to the vet regardless of if it is a small or large cut. Even smaller lacerations can develop severe infection so it's best to err on the side of caution.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am afraid that this is an open wound and will require further local therapy with debridement, cleaning, stitches, antibiotics and pain control medications. I recommend that you have Coco evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment as these wounds are painful and can get infected easily. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This wound is certainly very small and will most likely heal up on its own if you leave it alone and maintain it clean. I would not advise the use of neosporin or any other topical ointment as it is a bit deep and those are not indicated in internal tissue. I would just ensure that it remains clean and that he does not lick at it or traumatize it any other way. If it does not resolve, then have him evaluated. Good luck and have a good evening!

Without seeing how it looks i can't really tell you if she needs treatment or not but if no bleeding occur a local antibiotic cream 2-3 times a day for a few days is likely to be enough as far as treatment goes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If at all possible I recommend a vet visit to see if this wound could be closed. Suturing it closed may allow much faster healing than leaving it open. Otherwise be sure to keep it clean and dry. You can use an antiseptic like betadine or chlorhexidine once to clean it. Be sure to dilute cleaner then rinse well. Use just today or if the wound gets extremely dirty. Using daily can actually slow healing. Keep the area clean and dry. I recommend Ares stay primarily indoors until it is closed as he could get a maggot infestation of flies lay eggs on the wound. Using hydrotherapy or gentle water from a hose is a good way to keep it clean. If there is swelling, discharge or pain, Ares needs to see a vet for medications. I hope he heals quickly.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could have been from the grooming. If it is that small and superficial, it may heal on its own though it is hard to know based on a picture. You can continue to monitor it for now. If it does not improve or resolves within the next week, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!