My dog has a paw gash. Does he need an emergency vet or can he wait?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It depends on the location and severity of the cut as to how it would best be treated. Sometimes they can be closed, other times bandaging may be best. Ideally wounds should be addressed as quickly as possible to allow for optimal healing. Waiting another day may make closing the wound impossible if it's an option. Make sure that Moose cannot lick the wound, this may require an e-collar (lampshade cone of shame). If it is painful or continuing to bleed he should be seen tonight.

If the bleeding stops when a bandage is applied then you are probably safe to wait and see your primary veterinarian tomorrow. However, please make sure the bandage is not applied too tight (easy to do), as we don’t want to restrict blood flow. Pads can be difficult when they are cut. Sometimes stitches don’t hold up as well as they do in normal skin. Your veterinarian will help you decide if stitches are needed or not. Best of luck and I hope Zuko improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I think as long as you schedule a visit on Monday Bertie should be okay. I'd recommend getting a E-collar to prevent Bertie from licking the nail as this may result in infection. You can also soak the foot in a diluted chlorohexidine or diluted iodine solution and then rinse thoroughly. If Bertie stops eating, acts lethargic, starts limping, or is obsessively trying to lick the nail then it would be better to get him to a veterinarian sooner. If he remains otherwise normal I think you are okay in waiting until Monday. Torn nails can be pretty painful, but please remember there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs so you will need a prescription from a vet for pain meds. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Bertie's issue resolves quickly!

Hello, thank you for your question about Baxter. Based on your description and the photo provided I believe that Baxter can wait until Monday to be seen by a veterinarian. In the meantime I would try to prevent him from licking at the area and try to keep it as clean as possible. If you have one you can use an e-collar to prevent him from getting at the area. Alternatively you could cover his foot with a sock (if you use this method try to keep the sock clean and dry, it may need to be changed). Additionally when Baxter goes outside I would recommend covering his foot (especially if the ground is wet) to prevent dirt and debris from getting to the area. You can use a plastic shopping bag or a bootie for this purpose. I would recommend scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian on Monday so that they can examine the area and determine if it is infected/irritated and prescribe Baxter any medications that they feel are warranted. Hope this helps, good luck!

Ouch, that's a big enough tear it should be seen by your vet. At the very least they can clip back the hair, thoroughly clean it, and then provide you with pain medications and antibiotics for Ave so it doesn't get infected. Until you can get into your vet, it is best to keep the foot clean and dry and to NOT let him lick it. Licking will introduce bacteria that will cause further inflammation and potential infection. You can use an Elizabethan (cone) collar to keep him from doing so. I would also limit all activity to leashed walks only for potty breaks to prevent him from putting more weight on the injured pad which can lead to more pain.

Place an e-collar (cone) on Pardi to prevent licking. Gently clean with a dilute chlorhexidine solution. You can apply a non stick pad and bandage lightly, but you will need to change the bandage when it becomes moist or dirty. There are no OC medications you can safely give for pain management. See your veterinarian as soon as you are able.

Hi there. So sorry this happened. It sounds like you did everything correctly. I suggest you don't change the bandage too much as you are likely to disrupt the blood clot by doing so causing it to bleed again. If you have a good bandage on then I would leave it. Just make sure it is not too tight. Be sure to keep Lancelot very calm and quiet. Too much moving around can also cause more bleeding. If she will let you, you can ice the wound through the bandage for 10 minutes tonight and then again tomorrow morning. That will help reduce bleeding and swelling. That is really all you can do at this point until you can get it stitched up tomorrow. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you! Dr. Amber