My puppy's dog bite is infected, can't afford vet. What should I do?

Unfortunately, we cannot (legally and ethically) advise giving prescription medication for a condition that we can't fully evaluate through this service. It's difficult to know how bad the wound is without seeing it, but I'll give you some general wound care advice: 1) Clip the hair around the area and expose all of the sore skin. 2) Wash/spray the area with just cool, clean water (no soap or other antiseptics) for at least 5 minutes at a time. Do this at least twice a day. 3) Bandage the wound (if possible) with gauze and apply an over-the-counter antibacterial cream (i.e Neosporin) to the wound. Keeping it covered and keeping Zoe from licking it will be the most difficult part of the treatment. You can help keep the bandage on by placing a good (really sticky) tape above and below the bandage. You can find sprays in the pet store, like bitter apple, that are meant to deter licking. This can be sprayed on the bandage (not the wound) to help keep Zoe from chewing it off. NOTE: Be careful not to bandage too tight around legs, or it can cut-off the circulation. If you notice that the toes/foot starts to swell, then remove the bandage and leave it off until the swelling goes down. It's difficult for me to know how severe this is without evaluating her, but in severe cases it's recommended that she gets professional treatment, or she can have life-threatening complications. I understand that money is an issue, but there are often various options in these cases and I recommend contacting a local animal rescue for advice about affordable veterinary care. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and Zoe gets better soon.

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. She looks like she is experiencing some swelling in the face and is almost certainly in some pain. I understand that you don't have much money, but she almost certainly requires pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication, and antibiotics. The wounds on the face should be clipped around then cleaned with antiseptic in order to disinfect. Depending on the size of any wounds, they may need to be closed with stitches. Some veterinarians reserve medications and / or funding for situations like these that require need. You may also be eligible to apply for care credit. Here is the website. It allows you to obtain monies for veterinary care and pay it off over long periods of time interest free. https://www.carecredit.com/ Any time there is an attack in the face, I would also have to be concerned about possible trauma to the eye. If he is experiencing any difficulty getting around or looks off balanced in any way, there could be head trauma as well. A vet will be needed to make these determinations. I hope you are able to figure things out.

Poor Coco. Based on the pictures, I am concerned that it is infected and that is not a normal part of the healing process. It looks worse in the second picture compared to the first. She cannot wait two weeks to see a vet, I would see if you can get her in on an emergency basis or take her into an ER vet. While you are calling around to get her into an ER vet, put a cone on her to keep her from licking it and making it worse. You can make one at home or buy one at a pet store. Best of luck. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

I would call your local shelter to see if they can treat her for a lower price. Unfortunately, some will help but others will only treat animals that are up for adoption. If they can't, they may be able to direct you to a clinic that is lower in cost or has a free first exam. You could also talk to your vet about prescribing some antibiotics. I would ask if they are any antibiotics that can be prescribed at a human pharmacy that might be cheaper. I hope this helps!

I’m sorry you are having issues with Coco. This mass appears to have become wuite large and has started to necrose in the center. This will continue to get bigger and remain infected if it is not surgically removed. The only thing you can do is clean the surface, but that is really not very helpful. Coco should see your veterinarian ASAP to discuss surgery to remove this mass. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I would not pop and drain this yourself. If it's filled with pus, it's infected and Sugar needs antibiotics from the vet to treat it. In addition, popping it yourself can lead to additional infection in the area. I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ God's Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.
 The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.
 Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay. Please take Sugar into the vet to have this treated.

The wound looks pretty upset and there is discharge that would make me concerned about an infection. Coco needs to wear a cone to prevent her from licking. I would not bandage the wound at home but you can flush it with some warm water and dry it well with a clean paper towel until her appointment tomorrow.