Senior dog's support harness caused skin wound. What else can I do?

Hello. The area is definitely irritated & probably infected. Clean the area with a skin antiseptic, one with either chlorhexidine or benzoyl peroxide as the main ingredient. If Wangu is licking the area, pick up an Elizabethan cone or collar to wear so he cannot reach the spot. Do not administer any medications until your vet has had a chance to examine the area. To help with pain & discomfort, take a bag of frozen vegetables like peas, wrap in a tea towel & hold against the area for 10 minutes several times during the day. The cold will numb the area giving him some relief. Once your vet sees this, I am sure he will start antibiotics & possibly advise other treatments. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is likely this will heal well with a little help. I would advise putting the antibiotic ointment on once or twice daily and putting a T shirt on Precious so that she can’t lick the ointment off (or lick at the wound, which delays healing). You can use a rubber band or hair tie to remove the slack from her waist area if you want. Best of luck to you and Precious!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think that this looks severe enough that it warrants a veterinary evaluation to shave and clean the area appropriately and also start him on antibiotics to treat a possible infection. They can assess how it looks on a close examination and treat it accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!

Yes, it could be from the harness. I would gently clean Junior's wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

Yes, that sounds like normal healing. If they recommended cleaning the area then I would do that to keep it draining. Use the medication as directed and with the cone to prevent licking I expect this to heal in a week to ten days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Rupert.

I recommend cleaning the wound with antibacterial soap, rinsing it well and then applying a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. This looks fairly superficial so with keeping it cleaned and treated daily this should heal fine. If you keep Ginny outside please use a dog flea and insect repellent on her to prevent flies and knots from getting into the wound. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Ginny.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. From the picture you provided it does look as though there is quite a bit of redness / irritation. I would recommend using Sentry wound ointment, which you can find at PetCo or online. You can apply this twice daily to the area. If there is no improvement after 48-72 hours, I would recommend having this examined by your veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.