My dog got a minor head bite. Should I worry about infection?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Dia. These may be from an injury. I would gently clean the wounds with warm water and antiseptic soap. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and she will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

Ouch! Poor Penelope! You can clean the wounds with diluted betadine. Add water until it is the color of weak tea. She may need antibiotics and pain medication though. These you'll need to get from your veterinarian after an exam. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have her examined anyway. Monitor for swelling, discharge, bleeding that won't stop or lethargy.

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.

Poor Brooklyn. I'd be concerned about infection. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and she will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for posting! Sometimes bite wounds can leave pockets in the skin making the wound worse than they appear initially. It would be a good idea for this to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will asses the area for pockets in the skin and asses whether or not stitches are needed. It seems small enough for tissue glue to be used but the wound may need to be closed with a stitch or two. A lot of bacteria is intro introduced into the skin and surrounding tissue during a bite. Brisquette may need systemic antibiotics as well to help lessen the chance of developing an infection. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear about Darby, I can imagine that was very scary for both of you! I would recommend having Darby seen by a veterinarian as soon as you can. Dog bite wounds can be very extensive, beyond what you can see on the surface. There can be significant soft tissue injury that you cannot see, and a wound that looks like a small puncture can actually have deep pocketing and tissue damage. Also, dog bite wounds are very prone to becoming infected, as the bacteria in a dog's mouth can infect your dog's skin and prevent the wounds from healing. Your veterinarian will likely want to sedate Darby so he/she can clip the hair around the wounds and clean them out. Based on Darby's physical exam, your veterinarian may also recommend x-rays to look for evidence of other trauma, such as lung contusions (bruises) or fractures. Your veterinarian can also prescribe pain medications and antibiotics. As a reminder, NEVER give dogs pain medication which is intended for humans, as they can be fatally toxic to dogs. Darby may be scared of dogs for a little while after this event, which is to be expected. I hope this is helpful, and good luck with Darby!

It looks like the skin in this area has become infected. It could have started as a simple wound, like you said, and then progressively became infected. To help the area heal, keep the wound clean and dry. Wash it 2x a day with a gentle antibacterial soap. You can apply some triple antibiotic ointment to it as well. You will need to keep Boomer from licking the area as best as you can. The best way to do this is by placing an E-collar on him. If this does not help the area heal in 3-5 days or if the area around the wound is swollen at all, I would recommend taking Boomer to the vet to have it evaluated. He may need oral antibiotics to get it cleared up. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.