My vaccinated dog got a minor scratch from a stray. What to do?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Keep the wound clean and dry. You can use just a damp cloth to clean the wound if needed. I would not recommend using any appointments or peroxide is that can cause worsening irritation. It will probably heal up just fine, but if you notice any swelling or discharge I recommend that does it to rule out infection or need for antibiotics.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This depends on how deep it appears to be. If it is just a superficial scratch and it appears that the bleeding already resolved, you may continue to monitor it. If at some point a discharge develops and it appears to be getting infected, have him examined then. You may clean the area with soapy water. However, if it seems deep, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. It is hard to know for sure without being able to see it though I hope this is helpful. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Scratches are a little less concerning than a bite, especially if there was no bleeding. Sounds like you performed first aide to your wounds well, but if your scratch marks do not heal or worsen, then yes please see your MD. Puppies can begin getting their initial vaccines around 8 weeks of age so I would make sure schedule an appointment with his veterinarian for this soon. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a fairly superficial wound at least based on this picture. However, it would still be a good idea to have him evaluated by a veterinarian to look at it more closely in case it is deeper than what it looks like. Also, these can be painful and can get infected so your veterinarian could potentially start antibiotics and pain control medications. If superficial, these wounds tend to respond well to therapy and heal relatively quickly. Good luck and have a good night!

It looks as if Ava has a scratch or abrasion of some sort. My best guess would be that she got it roughhousing with another dog at the dog park. Or, if you have noticed that she is itchy, she may have caused some self trauma by scratching too hard. You could try putting some triple antibiotic ointment on the area for a couple days and see if that helps it heal up. If it persists for more than a few days or if you noticed that Ava is very itchy, then I would recommend taking her to the vet to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It still looks mostly healed so I think it would be fine to monitor for now. If another scab forms then I would make sure to not her scratch it off. You can try to keep her from it by using dog "shorts" you may find online to try to cover that area. Hopefully, this continues to heal without problems. If it becomes a recurrent issue or it develops a discharge with a foul odor concerning for an infection, have her evaluated by a veterinarian then. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At least on this picture this looks very superficial and it is very likely that it will resolve on its own as long as the area is kept nice and clean. If you have noticed Dexter licking at it, an e-collar to prevent that would be ideal. Otherwise, this should continue getting better. If no major improvement in the next week or so, have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment which may include antibiotics. Good luck and have a great day!