Dog's puncture wound is red, swollen, scratching, and panting. Help!

Hello. It does look like the wound needs some stitches, but it also does not look too badly infected. There could be many reasons for the dog to pant rapidly, including lung infections & parasites, heartworm disease, or other infections in the body. Be careful with the paracetamol because too much can cause serious liver issues in dogs ( we are unable to dispense dosing advice ). If you can have him seen by a vet, this would be best, otherwise, keep him cool & hydrated & keep the wound as clean as you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If there is swelling and it feels hot to the touch and painful then these are signs that infection is present (bite wounds/punctures are unfortunately prone to infeciton) and oral antibiotics are likely needed. I would make an appointment with your vet to get the wound examined. In the meantime, applying an ice pack to the area for 10 minutes every few hours may provide some relief to the pain (be sure to wrap the ice pack in a thin cloth/towel so it isn't directly on the skin).

Typically puncture wounds are not closed surgically. Splints are only put on legs and they would only splint a leg if it was broken. Yes, you can clip/shave that hair from around the wound. I would need to know the name of the product you are using - I cannot enlarge or read the ingredients. The best product to use on this type of wound is Vetericyn. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs You will also need to keep her from licking that spot until it is healed so it is best to get her a cone to wear. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar Start the antibiotics as soon as you can get them.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Rey. This looks like a puncture wound to me, and it looks a bit weepy which makes me worried about infection. I'm wondering if the vet gave her any antibiotics; if not, I think she needs some. Anxiety is rough in dogs, and one important thing to do is not comfort her. You think you are doing good, but you are actually telling her the behavior is ok and reinforcing it. I'd try a Sentry calming collar on her to see if that helps, and have her seen by a vet again. Medication may helpful for her as well, which the vet can prescribe. I hope this helps.

Hello, sorry to hear about Bolt. It does appear that he is very itchy near his rear end. The most common cause for this is actually flea allergy dermatitis. This is a hypersensitivity to flea saliva that causes dogs to become very itchy, can cause lethargy, anxiety, innapetence, excessive panting. and restlessness. The condition is very uncomfortable for pets and if Bolt is feeling very uneasy then it may be worth while to have him seen by a veterinarian tonight so that they may administer anti-flea medications with a fast kill and something to stop the allergic reaction to the flea saliva. If Bolt is not too uncomfortable, then placing an e-collar on him so that he may not lick or scratch and having seen by his primary care veterinarian tomorrow is also acceptable. In addition to this, you will need to place all of your pets on year round flea control and treat their environment with anti-flea products. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You should clean the wound twice daily with cotton buds and ideally 4% chlorxhexidine or iodine solution (available over the counter at pharmacies). If you are not able to get these antiseptic products, you should use just boiled, warm water. Also, please make sure that Ponyo is not licking or scratching the wound. Putting a head cone may be necessary. Dressing wounds in dogs is often cumbersome. If the puncture is on the chest or the abdomen you can put a small t-shirt on Ponyo to cover it up..

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.