My dog's leg has liquid swelling after a fight. Does it need draining?

This looks like a severe bite wound and it would need to be examined by a veterinarian. This wound needs to be cleaned and disinfected and your dog will need pain medicine and antibiotics, Please take Tyson to a veterinarian for wound care. The swelling may be a sign of a fracture or infection.

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.

Please have Ann examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER today. That wound will likely need to be explored and debrided surgically. This will require anesthesia. A culture/sensitivity and biopsy of the area should be submitted as well. The C&S will identify any bacteria as well as the best antibiotic to use in treatment. Even though she was on antibiotics, if the bacteria was not susceptible to them, they would be ineffective. A biopsy will rule out neoplasia (cancer). Either can cause delayed healing or non-healing. If infection gets into the bone, it could turn into a life threatening condition. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking until she sees a doctor.

Thank you for submitting your question. I'm sorry to hear about the dog fight. I'm concerned that her face is still swollen this many days after the fight. There is a chance an abscess has now formed. Bacteria are introduced under the skin with the bite. The skin tends to heal over the wound trapping the bacteria under the skin. If the infection grows, a swelling known as an abscess forms. This will likely require antibiotics, if not surgery to heal. Your dog will need to see a veterinarian. In the meantime, you can try warm compresses at home. Apply a warm washcloth to the swollen area for 5 minutes three times per day. I hope this information!

I recommend to have Charlie examined by the veterinarian today. The liquid likely indicates an infection which can get worse without treatment. Charlie will likely get an antibiotic and maybe a topical treatment. Charlie also cannot lick or scratch the area because this could make it worse. He may need to wear an elizabethan collar at all times. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The fact that it is swollen with a yellow bump has me concerned that it is becoming infected. You could clean the area with a wound wash but he really should be examined and treated by a vet as he may need an antibiotic.

Poor Scarlet! Bites can frequently lead to abscesses, which are pockets of infection. It might be that the stuff you saw draining was pus, indicating infection. She needs to see a vet for this, as antibiotics are needed to treat any infection. The vet can flush the wound out as well. I would take her into a vet first thing in the morning.