My dog has neck wounds from a shock collar. Can I treat them myself?

If the wound is superficial (just on the skin), I suggest washing the area well with a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution. Apply a warm washcloth 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time to soothe the area and promote drainage. After washing and the compress, dry it well and apply a small amount of an [antimicrobial preparation](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-antimicrobial-wound-and-skin-hydrogel-for-pets) to the wound. Confirm the product does NOT contain hydrocortisone. Steroids may slow healing. If the wound does not show signs of healing within a few days, have him seen by your veterinarian right away. Antibiotics and pain medication may be indicated. Other symptoms to monitor for include [fever](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-causes-of-fever-in-pets), loss of appetite, [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/article/vomiting-in-dogs), diarrhea, redness, swelling or discharge.

It is sure possible. I would recommend an examination with a veterinarian. They will likely want to shave the fur under the neck to visualize the extent of the trauma as well as to establish a clean area for healing. Antibiotics may be needed. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach

It's difficult to tell the extent of the injury (the photo is quite blurry), but the wound appears rather deep. Here are my recommendation: 1) Clip the hair around the area and expose all of the lesions. 2) Flush the wound with clean water a syringe using high pressure. Use a clean cloth to gently wipe away the scabs. Do not scrub, because it will irritate the skin more. It's OK if all of the scabs do not come off in each washing. Do not use any antiseptics like iodine, because this can be irritating and delay healing. 3) Apply an antibacterial cream to the wound and lightly bandage the wound. Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FQ0JopKfY0&t=93s 4) Leave the collar off until the wound is completely healed. 5) Repeat flush and bandage every day. You should start seeing good results within a week after starting this. It may take a few weeks before it's completely healed. If two weeks go by and it's not getting any better, then it's best to have a veterinarian exam it. Also, if it appears to get worse, then it would be best to take her to the vet for treatment. I hope that helps and this gets better soon.

That regimen maybe enough for this to heal. However if the redness does not go away or it starts to have an older or discharge then Coal needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Triple anabiotic ointment is unlikely to cause any harm. However if it is put on too thick can cause irritation. If Coal acts uncomfortable, has increasing redness, or develops a discharge then he needs to be seen by his veterinarian.

Ouch! Poor baby! I would put some Neosporin on it twice a day. I would also make sure he isn't scratching at it as this can slow healing. You can give him Benadryl if it seems itchy. If it isn't healing, I would have your vet take a look to ensure he doesn't need any oral antibiotics or other treatment. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/

If you think the lesion was caused by the collar rubbing, you can put some neosporin on it. The most important thing is to keep her from scratching. You may have to put a t-shirt or similar around her neck , so she cannot directly scratch the lesion. If the itching does not stop within 2 days or if the lesion starts to expand or ooze, you will need to stop the neosporin and take her to a veterinarian for an exam, as it may have been infected by bacteria. This could also be a fungus, in which case the neosporin will not work, If possible, wash her collar before putting it back on

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Takoda! I would try to shave all the fur away from the area and check closely for other wounds. Then clean the skin with water and a mild soap. Avoid hydrogen peroxide as it can damage the skin. Then apply a triple antibiotic ointment twice daily. If there is a large full thickness gash or puncture it is best to have Takoda seen by a Vet to see if surgery is warranted or oral antibiotics. I hope this helps and I wish Takoda the best!