Dog licking wound: How to stop it and speed up healing?

Oh no, poor Cat! You may need to be a shirt on him to keep the dog from licking at the wound. Cats will fit into baby shirts, and you can find a cheap from an op shop. Usually an infant size 3-6 months will fit a cat. You can clean the wound with warm water and antiseptic soap, but I don't recommend putting any ointments on it. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed. Keep an eye on the wound, and if it becomes red, swollen, warm to the touch, or has pus, it's infected and cat will need to see the vet for antibiotics.

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.

The most important thing to do is stop his licking by using a cone. Then clean the wound with a warm damp cloth and apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. The skin discoloring is from licking. This should heal in a few days to a week once he leaves it alone. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

A picture of Vinnie's wound or more or of a description of its size and location would be helpful in giving you advice. If it is a small wound on the skin (less than a centimeter in size) you could try gently cleaning the area with hydrogen peroxide and applying a triple antibiotic ointment to help it heal. However, if Vinnie's wound is larger or not healing within a few days I'd recommend he see a veterinarian for evaluation. If the wound is large enough he may need antibiotics or even stitches to help it heal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

It is very difficult, or nearly impossible, to say what the initial cause of that wound is on Clyde's arm. However, what he is now doing is contributing to its inability to heal properly. The licking is happening because the area hurts, but the licking creates a more profound wound. This in turn creates more pain, therefore more licking, and on and on the wheel turns. As a result, we need to stop the licking. You will need to get a collar for Clyde to wear. You can buy one commercially or make on at home. The area should also be clipped and cleaned with an antiseptic, and something should be applied to the area daily to help with itching. A systemic antibiotic is sometimes needed in these instances as well, which would require a visit to the vet. Hope this helps!

I would actually recommend taking Shadow Box into a vet now. The cut looks long enough to need stitches, and the vet can prescribe him pain medication as well as antibiotics to prevent any infection.