My dog's spider bite got worse. Should I keep using the spray?

Ouch. The area does look quite swollen and possibly already infected. Depending on the spider that bit Rocco, he may need antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines to prevent the skin from being necrotic (dying off) and systemic bacteria (bacteria floating in the bloodstream which can be life threatening) from developing. i would suggest cleaning it with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water for tonight if a vet visit is just absolutely not possible. This will help provide some topical antiseptic cleansing of the wound. Take special care not to get any of this in his eyes. Then getting Rocco seen by a vet first thing in the morning to get this area looked at and treated appropriately. However if a vet visit tonight is possible, then getting him seen right away is best, before it gets any worse. I hope everything works out well for your pet Rocco. Best wishes and take care.

It does need medical attention and it very well may be a spider bite or an abscess. You can try to flush the wound and clean it with water and mild soap and apply neosporin to keep it from getting worse until you can get it seen by a vet for stronger medicine

I'm glad Charlie is eating and otherwise fine. I recommend using a hot compress on the draining area and the smaller bite, and it's ok to use over his eye also to remove the discharge. That will keep it clean and draining and will bring in the blood supply to help the area heal faster. Continue the antibiotics as directed and you can apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on the open area, not too close to the eye though. That will protect it from dirt and further infection. Spider bites can take a long time to heal. Having clear to slightly bloody drainage is normal and nothing to be overly concerned about. Should the wounds look worse or if Charlie stops eating then I would certainly run him in for a recheck exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Charlie.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may still be normal after a spider bite. However, something like an abscess or a growth cannot be ruled out just by looking at it. I would recommend you continue the course. However, if this gets worse such as getting larger, I recommend you consider having it sampled to make sure he is not developing anything else. Best of luck!

It really depends on the location, severity and the clinical signs associated with the bite. If the bite is on his body and he is otherwise acting normal, you could clean the area with an antiseptic wound cleaner and apply an OTC topical antibiotic. He might need an oral antibiotic to prevent infection, an anti-inflammatory, and/or some pain medications and your vet could prescribe. Some dogs get bit in the mouth and it can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and may require treatment to help stop the vomiting and diarrhea. If you have any concerns about the bite then he should be examined by your vet to determine the best way to treat.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It looks like the tissue has begun to granulate, which is a good step in the healing process. The "burn" he feels is likely due to the exposed tissue bed which still feels very "raw" With the size of this wound and the type-I usually recommend oral antibiotics as well as a topical healing agent like Manuela honey. For these-you will need to see a veterinarian for a prescription, especially if OTC topicals are no longer helping. You have done well so far, but it looks like this wound may just need a little more help. Clipping the hair around the border of the wound will help keep it from trapping fluid seepage from there as well. I hope this helps!

Hello, sorry to hear about Charlie. It sounds like he may have a local area of infection. I agree that the area itself will likely take a long time to heal, however, if he is vomiting and having a lethargy (systemic signs) then this is more concerning for an infection that may be spreading to other parts of his body. This does warrant an emergency visit today. There is a high possibility that his vomiting and decreased appetite is associated with his wound and infection, but there are also other causes for these clinical signs as well. Hope this helps and best of luck!!