My dog was hit by a car and has bleeding facial injuries. What to do?

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear about your dog! She should ideally be taken right in to the vet. If you're unable to do so, the most important thing you can do for her is keep her quiet, and well supervised. Sometimes with hit-by-car incidents the injuries are not all immediately apparent. If there is internal bleeding, it can take a number of hours for the symptoms to appear. So, watch her closely, and if she becomes lethargic, or her appetite decreases, or new symptoms develop (such as vomiting), then take her in immediately. In the meantime, keep her wound clean and dry. If the wound is superficial you can wash it with a mild hand dishsoap (such as Dawn dish soap) and pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Do this 1-2 times daily to clean any discharge and soften any developing scabs. I hope this helps!

This is a very concerning presentation. I would recommend an immediate check up to assess his injuries properly and give immediate pain relief and appropriate treatment. X rays and antibiotics and supportive nutrition may be needed.

She needs to be examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. A complete physical exam and x-rays may diagnose or rule out serious injury and fracture. The abrasions should be properly cleaned and dressed, if indicated, to prevent infection. She may need antibiotics and pain management.

A dog that has been involve in a car accident needs to be checked professionally by a vet, it would not be responsible or even possible for me to start explaining to you how i would check him because it is complex and based on years of studying and experience. your dog will also most likely need to have an xray done to rule out internal organ damage. i strongly recommend taking him to the vet ASAP.

This dog would be examined using the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation) and if stable, would have blood testing (CBC, chemistry) and chest x-rays to evaluate for rib fractures, integrity of the diaphragm, and pulmonary contusions (although these can take 24 hours to develop radiographically). In most cases, the dog would also have an IV catheter placed and be started on a "shock dose" of IV fluids.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian. The hair will need to be shaved to see the extent of the lesion. If she does not have a history of a traumatic wound, she could have an infected tooth. This can create an abscess under the skin that can rupture open. Her veterinarian will examine her and determine the best course of treatment. I hope this information helps!

This is definitely something that can be fixed by a veterinarian, so I wouldn't have her put down based on this gash alone. There may be other problems though, so it's best to have a vet evaluate her soon. The vet can give you an idea of how bad her injuries are and what it would take to get her back to normal. It's best not to wait longer than 24hours to have her seen by a vet, because this gash is easier to fix the sooner it's seen after the injury. Also, there may be other, life-threatening injuries that can be fixed. I hope that helps and Briar Rose gets better soon.