My dog has a puncture wound and a lump under her skin. Should I worry?

It is hard to know what is going on without seeing it. But I think it may be more likely that the lump has ruptured or ulcerated as opposed to being bitten off. There is a chance of infection, but if the hole is in the first few layers and isn't bleeding excessively it is unlikely that Nena would die from it overnight. You should get your gran to take off the alcohol swabs as they will sting and actually can damage cells. If you cant see a vet tonight I would cover it in a clean dressing and wrap it up. Go tonthe vet as soon as you can as it will need treated, and could be more expensive if you leave it.

There could have been internal damage from this stick puncture, and it's concerning that five days later, he's leaking bloody fluid. You have to have him seen by a vet for this. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. You can also see if you can borrow money from family and friends to afford the vet. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian. The hair will need to be shaved to see the extent of the lesion. If she does not have a history of a traumatic wound, she could have an infected tooth. This can create an abscess under the skin that can rupture open. Her veterinarian will examine her and determine the best course of treatment. I hope this information helps!

Poor Twinkle! From the pictures, it appears that he does have a full-thickness puncture wound. While bite wounds are the most common causes of these types of punctures, it is also possible that Twinkle sustained an injury from sharp material, such as a fence, or from a ruptured tumor under the skin. It would be ideal to take Twinkle to his vet for further evaluation, because some of these wounds require surgery to assure that the tissue under the skin has not been extensively damaged. Additionally, it is likely that Twinkle will require a course of antibiotics since it is likely that this wound will become infected, if it has not already. Your vet will be able to prescribe pain medication, if necessary, but do not give him human pain medications, as many are unsafe for dogs. Until you can get to the vet, try cleaning the wound with dilute betadine or chlorhexidine antiseptic solutions, taking care to rinse well. Be sure to keep an e-collar (cone) on Twinkle until his vet visit to prevent him from licking the wound, as this will worsen any infection. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Yes you should be very concerned - she needs urgent veterinary assessment to investigate the depth of the wound and the extent of the injury. Surgical cleaning and repair of the wound may be required alongside antibiotics and pain medications. If the wound is deep this may be lifethreatening as her vital organs may become exposed

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a fairly superficial wound at least based on this picture. However, it would still be a good idea to have him evaluated by a veterinarian to look at it more closely in case it is deeper than what it looks like. Also, these can be painful and can get infected so your veterinarian could potentially start antibiotics and pain control medications. If superficial, these wounds tend to respond well to therapy and heal relatively quickly. Good luck and have a good night!