Is it safe to give my dog a shot for a bite wound infection?

Oh dear, poor Jack! Dog bite wounds can become infected quickly and can cause far more damage under the skin than is visible on the surface. I strongly recommend taking Jack to his vet for evaluation since surgery can be necessary for many bite wounds to assure that the wound is clean, tissue is healthy, and that underlying organs and structures have not been damaged. The vet will also likely prescribe antibiotics (cephalexin, cefpodoxime, amoxicillin-clavulinic acid are typically used in these cases) and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (such as carprofen, deracoxib, or meloxicam) if his liver and kidney blood values are normal. The vet will also likely recommend an e-collar (cone) to prevent Jack from licking or scratching at the wound, unless the collar would directly rub on the wound and cause further irritation. I hope this helps and that Jack feels better soon!

No, it's not safe to give Rex your other dog's medication, as it may not be the correct antibiotic for the bacteria in the dog's mouth that bit him. If the laceration isn't big or deep and the bleeding has stopped, you can wait to take him into the vet until the morning. The vet can examined the laceration, and give an appropriate antibiotic. If the laceration is deep, or the bleeding isn't stopping, you will need to take Rex into the vet now.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Candy. Yes, you should take her in and not give her any penicillin you have in the home. Dogs have a lot of bacteria in their mouth, and she could have developed an abscess from this bite. She will be in pain, and she needs pain medication and correct antibiotics to treat this. Please take her into a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Poor Viper! I don't recommend giving over the counter pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol as these can have serious side effects in animals. It will also limit the type of pain medication that your veterinarian can prescribe and may result in Viper not getting adequate pain control. Unfortunately there is nothing over the counter that can be given to dogs for pain control, so if he is acting very painful, I would recommend taking him to a vet tonight if you can. If you are unable to, I would recommend taking him as soon as you can tomorrow. Most bite wounds will get infected and they almost always need oral antibiotics. The veterinarian will also make sure the wound isn't worse than it looks. Bite wounds can appear small on the surface, but can penetrate deeper than what we see or tear the skin from underlying tissue so that a pocket is created under the skin. These pockets can fill up with blood or pus and need to be drained. Good luck and I hope that Viper is feeling better soon!

Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to give the dose information for any drug without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for Bear. I do not recommend giving him any antibiotics for this infection unless specifically prescribed by a vet. You will need to take him into the vet to discuss using antibiotics. The vet cannot put him down without your permission, so that should not be a worry. Best of luck.

I would strongly recommend that you take OJ to a vet. Dog bites are very nasty, and get infected quite easily. They often require oral prescription antibiotics and pain medications. Unfortunately, it is illegal for me to prescribe medications without physically examining OJ, and there aren't OTC pain medications that are safe for dogs. You can help him by getting him to rest, bringing food and water to him, and keeping the wound clean. Just use a warm wet washcloth or gentle water spraying, don't use alcohol or peroxide on the wound.

Ideally, he should be seen by your veterinarian. Potential infection and pain are concerns that should be addressed by a vet. A rabies booster may also be considered. If a vet visit is not possible right now, place an e-collar (cone) on Simon to prevent rubbing or pawing. Keep the wound clean with a diluted Betadine or Hibiclens solution, being careful to not get any in his mouth. Monitor for redness, swelling, active bleeding, discharge, fever or loss of appetite. This are all symptoms that require veterinary attention. Unfortunately, there are no completely safe OTC products that can be given for pain. Many or toxic to dogs or easily overdosed.