My dog has a minor skin cut. Should I see a vet or treat it myself?

Question

My dog Bear came in from outside and had her wrist cut open just the top skin. Should i have her seen? Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | spayed | 2 years and 1 month old | 65 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Poor Bear! If just the top layer of the skin has been cut, and it's not long or deep, you can treat it at home yourself. You can gently wash the cut with warm water and and antiseptic soap, and put a bandage over it. Make sure the bandage isn't so tight that it cuts off circulation I would not put neosporin or any topical ointment on it, as Bear might just try to lick it off, and it's not good for him to ingest that. I would keep him from licking at the wound, as that will introduce infection into the area. You may need to put an Ecollar on her to stop her from doing it, which you can get from a pet store. Monitor the cut for signs of infection, which include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus. If you see any of those signs, you will need to take her into the vet for antibiotics. Hopefully, it will heal fine without any problems :-)

My dog has a minor skin cut. Should I see a vet or treat it myself?

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