My dog keeps scratching a wound. Is it infected? Should I see a vet?

This looks like an infected skin wound. It is possible that the wound was due to some sort of trauma or it could be because Noah was scratching. Either way, Noah will need oral antibiotics in order for this wound to heal. It is unlikely that any topical treatment alone will help.

From the pictures, the skin appears red and inflamed. It does look like it is infected. While this may not be a true emergency, I would recommend getting in to see your veterinarian very soon. Pookie will need the area shaved and cleaned up. Your vet may prescribe an antibiotic for this as well depending. Until you can get to your vet, you can keep the area clean and dry and use a mild soap and water to clean the wound. If Pookie is licking it, you can put on ECollar on her to prevent licking.

Thank you for providing pictures of Zephyr's wound! It looks like there may be some scab formation already on the wound, so I would leave it be for now. My concern is that there are some areas on the wound that look a little red and I would have it checked out by a vet on Monday to be safe. The wound could be infected, and she would need antibiotics to treat it if it is. Keep her from licking at the wound by putting an Ecollar on her. You can get one at a pet store or you can make one at home: http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html I hope this helps!

The wound looks puffy from the photo (but I would need to palpate it to know for sure). The crusty area next to it could indicate another wound that is scabbed over or it could indicate a bacterial infection or ringworm (which humans can get). Your best option is to have Sophie examined by the veterinarian in case the wound is infected. She would be placed on antibiotics if that is the case. They could also test her for ringworm if it looks suspicious on exam. Make sure to protect the wound from scratching or licking. Sophie may need to wear an elizabethan collar if she can lick the area. A doggie shirt can help protect it from scratching. You do not want to disrupt the scab (it's nature's bandaide). I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Jasper. I would gently clean the wound 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 he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dexter. If the wound is not healing, I recommend that he sees his veterinarian early next week if he is otherwise acting normal. I cannot tell from the picture if there is a scab across the wound versus material that can be expressed out of the opening. If you can express material out, he could have a ruptured cyst. These are common small growths on or within the skin of a dog. They can rupture open though and become infected. Based on his exam, the veterinarian will decide if he needs any medication. In the meantime, do not let him lick or scratch the area. I hope this information helps!

It looks like what we call a hot spot or moist dermatitis. These looks really painful. I would have him seen. He will most likely need some antibiotics and some topical medication to help dry this up. They can also give you something for the itching or pain relief. These usually heal pretty quickly once they stop messing with them.