My dog keeps licking a wound on his stomach. What should I do?

Hello, and thank you for your question. Ingesting a bit of the antibiotic cream may cause some temporary upset tummy symptoms (diarrhea or vomiting). If you notice this, try taking away his food for 8 hours, and then start offering small, frequent meals of a bland diet such as boiled chicken and white rice. If Snowy becomes lethargic or disinterested in food, I would recommend taking him to the vet in case he needs further medical attention. In the future, when applying the cream, try to keep Snowy occupied with toys and play for about 10 minutes before letting him lick his skin. This should be enough time for the product to absorb in the skin so any licking will not cause any significant ingestion. I hope this helps, and that Snowy does well!

That area looks pretty inflamed. If there is also discharge coming from the wound, I would worry it is infected. It will need to be seen by your vet so they can clip the area and clean it, and provide any medications such as antibiotics to treat the infection. Until you can get to your vet, keeping the area clean and dry and preventing Alvin from licking with the use of an Elizabethan (cone) collar is best.

If they are play fighting a lot, then you may have to keep them separated until the wound can heal. 1. Clip the hair away from the wound using buzzing-type clippers, not scissors or a razor. This is so you can monitor the wound and keep the hair out of the way to help with healing. 2. Disinfect the wound once with peroxide or a first aid chlorhexidine wound soap. Do not continue to use peroxide, or alcohol, as this will delay healing. 3. Apply an antibacterial ointment, such as Neosporin, twice daily. If needed to clean the wound, use a warm wet wash cloth to gently wipe away any dried fluid. 4. Prevent all licking or scratching of the wound by using an e-collar or dog booties or socks. 5. See a vet if your pet experiences prolonged lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rectal temperature over 103, or if there is creamy discharge or discharge with a foul odor, or there is swelling around the wound.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely infected. I think it would be best to have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check the extent of the wounds and see what would be best to treat them. What you can do in the meantime is use an e-collar in the to prevent further injury. You can buy that at your local pet store or online. Good luck and have a great day!

Poor Panda! Unfortunately the safest and most effective thing in this case is going to be the E-collar. Ask your vet for tips on sizing and securing it to Panda. In some cases, a little anti-anxiety medication or sedation for a day or two can really help him keep that cone on. If it is truly a small graze, it is likely to heal in the next couple days as long as he keeps away from it. I also recommend keeping him inside if at all possible for the next couple days.

Ideally, he should be physically examined by a veterinarian. Antibiotics may be indicated. IN the meantime, place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent licking. Keep him separate from the other dog if possible. A small t-shirt may help prevent all licking if a cone or separation are not possible.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Krispy. I worry that he has a mass on his leg. If so, the skin will not heal unless the mass is surgically removed. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. In the meantime, place an E-collar on him to prevent any further self trauma. I hope this information helps!