Dog's nose wound keeps reopening. How to treat and prevent licking?

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Lucy! The best way for the area to heal is to prevent Lucy from rubbing her nose. I'd recommend getting an Elizabethan Collar (aka "The Cone of Shame") and then apply some triple antibiotic on the area twice daily. Keep using the Cone until the area has healed. You can get Elizabethan collars at your vet and some pet stores. Good luck!

Poor Belle. This could be a bacterial infection, fungal infection, or even a type of skin mite. Especially since it is getting worse, I would have your vet take a look at it. Your vet will be able to determine what has caused the infection and the best treatment plan to make it better. She is likely going to need some oral medication to help it heal. I hope this helps!

Your dog may have rubbed it raw, under the couch or through the fence maybe? I suggest washing the area gently with antibacterial soap and water. Apply a warm washcloth 2-3 times a day for five minutes at a time to help keep it clean and draining. After washing and the compress, dry thoroughly and apply a dab of antibiotic ointment that **does NOT** contain hydrocortisone to the wound. Steroids will slow healing. An OTC triple antibiotic ointment will suffice. Rub it in well and don't leave any excess for your pet to lick off. If it does not show signs of healing or if your dog develops a fever, loses his appetite, starts vomiting or has diarrhea have him seen by your veterinarian right away. Potential cause may include allergies, infection, automimmune disease or even cancer. An e-collar (cone) may be used to prevent rubbing or pawing.

Sounds like Misty is feeling pretty rough! Just under the nose is a hard place to stop licking, as you can't use an Elizabethan (cone) collar to stop her from doing so. You may need to try to distract misty with a chew toy instead that she can put her energy into to help prevent her from licking the spot. if it is very raw and sore, you may also want to have your vet take a look to make sure there isn't an infection or other irritation that should be treated. Your vet may also be able to recommend a no-lick spray or bandage that may be suitable around the nose, as well. Avoid putting any home remedies on the spot, as it may just increase irritation which will increase licking and stop the area from healing.

Sorry to see that sugar has a lesion on her skin. My recommendations for that would be to get a hair clipper and remove all the hair on and around the affected area. Once this is done I would pain either a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine solution and scrub the area until it is pretty clean. After having done this I would have obtain a triple antibiotic ointment or something with an antibiotic and steroid in it and apply it generously to the area one to two times a day. In addition I would obtain an Elizabethan collar to prevent sugar from performing any sort of self-mutilation which will ultimately delay the healing process. In some cases these lesions can require systemic antibiotics in which case it will not clear up and you will have to take sugar to the veterinarian to be seen. Hope this helps take care.

It sounds as though Frank is really preventing his sore from healing. I would recommend placing a cone/e-collar on him to prevent him from rubbing his face. You may also want to talk to your veterinarian about using a topical ointment/antibiotic to help it heal more quickly. An ointment may help reduce irritation which in turn may stop him from rubbing.

Sorry to hear Biscuit is in some discomfort. The second picture to me looks like whatever might have happened initially is definitely already on the road to recovery. There is some evidence of swelling and bruising, but it doesn't appear to be badly infected. That being said, if she is uncomfortable enough to be pawing at the area and bothering at it, it still might be painful. She could probably benefit from an anti-inflammatory prescribed by a vet. I would also encourage you to get her an e-collar to prevent her from causing any self-inflicted trauma, thus re-aggravating the lesion. These can be acquired at pet stores, on line, or through a veterinary office. There are also videos online on how to make homemade ones, though many times these are not as effective or will not hold up for very long in young, rambunctious dogs. If you are worried about possible infection, check the area for heat and take your dog''s temperature (anything above about 103 would be concerning for a dog sitting comfortably at home). You can also use something topically on the area, such as a neosporin ointment as well as something with a steroid to help with itchiness / inflammation to address. Hope this helps.