Why is my beagle's tail lesion not healing and getting worse?

Snoopy has to see a vet immediately. This ulcer needs to be cleaned in a sterile manner, and may need be sutured to help it heal. Please do not give him any more of your daughter's penicillin. It's never safe or recommended to self treat your animal, and you could be giving him an incorrect dose that may do harm to him. This will be painful to him, and he likely needs pain medications to treat this. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Snoopy needs to see a vet now for this for treatment and safe medications. Please bring him into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see him now.

I'm so sorry to hear that! I am very concerned that the tissue under the skin (connective tissue, muscle, etc) is becoming "necrotic" meaning that tissue is dying. I am also concerned there may still be a maggot issue, as the area is spreading (you said there is a new wound forming). She needs to be evaluated by a vet, and it will probably be necessary to have surgery to debride (cut away/remove) the unhealthy tissue. She will need antibiotics as well. Please take her to a vet who can care for her. Unfortunately there really is not a home solution that is going to be effective. Best of luck with her, I'm sorry I can't recommend a way for you to treat this at home.

I want to thank you very much for providing us such good pictures. Judging by them, I believe your dog either has an infection, immune allergic disease, a cyst-like growth, etc Unfortunately, any topical medication such as the one you’re applying will not be effective against any of these diseases. You do need to schedule an appointment with your regular veterinarian as soon as possible to have a thorough physical examination performed. The vet may also want to do x-rays, a biopsy, skin culture, etc. to the affected area. Most likely, you will get treatment in the form of injectable or oral medications as well as topicals. You will also probably be given a coon to keep your dog from traumatizing and licking the area. Thank you very much for using our consultation service. I hope I have provided you some help today.

Hi and thanks for posting! You can try washing the area with soap and water a couple times a day and keeping it as clean and dry as possible. It looks like Bear has been licking the area frequently which may be a reason why it is not healing as easily, so I would try and keep an E-Collar on her to prevent her from licking and bothering the lesion. Certainly, if despite your best efforts it is not healing properly or is worsening, Bear should see his veterinarian to have the lesion evaluated. The lesion may be infected and may require the use of systemic antibiotics to help treat. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It depends on what it is exactly. if the sore appears to be red, inflamed, draining, or has discharge coming from it, I'd recommend holding off on the neosporin and seeing your veterinarian to have it fully evaluated. Lilly may need a prescription medication from her vet in order for it to properly heal.

Thank you for sending the pictures! From what I can see, it looks like this lesion is only affecting the outermost skin layers, with the underlying tissue layers remaining intact. It's certainly possible that this lesion is from a traumatic injury, like the rubber bullet you'd mentioned, but it's equally possible that this is an infectious condition, like mange or ringworm. Since there is a good bit of skin damage that's bloody, it stands to reason that this type of lesion could become infected rather quickly, particularly if Crimson is licking at it at all. Even though we're now several days past the initial injury, I still recommend taking Crimson to her vet for an in person exam to thoroughly assess this lesion. Your vet may need to do some diagnostic testing to rule out infectious issues. Depending on their exam findings, your vet may need to prescribe oral antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory medications to aid in the healing process. Until your vet visit, be sure to prevent Crimson from licking at this lesion at all by putting an e-collar (cone) on her. I hope that she's on the mend soon!

Tail wounds are difficult to heal. You are doing a good job but need to place her in a cone to stop the licking and chewing. The wound can’t heal with constant irritation. I also would check her for fleas to make sure that isn’t the reason she started the chewing, and also you may want to have her anal sacs checked since if they are full they can cause itching in this area. Your veterinarian can also prescribe medication to control the itch and inflammation and antibiotics if they feel the area is infected. Be patient and continue with your treatment and this will heal in time. A tail amputation is a serious surgery and she would probably chew the incision and make a sore so you wouldn’t be any better off than you are now. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Leia.