Dog fight: my dog has a neck injury under fur. Should I shave it?

Question

My dogs got in a fight. One is a Yorkshire Terrior/Chihuahua mix, one is a bully mix (and bigger). The Terrior is mean and if the bull dog thinks the little one is being too agressive to us he'll fight him They are usually fine but this time the little one is injured around the neck and left shoulder and has a scrape on his nose. There is no bleeding but I'm worried about the neck because I can't see through the fur. I don't want to agitate him by shaving him. Is there anything I can do?

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

You are right there can be injuries to the neck you can't see through the fur. The little one could have been bitten around the neck, and a bite from another dog can lead to an infection in this area. You can try to shave around the area to see if there is a bite mark, and if there is, I would gently clean the area with warm water and an antiseptic soap. Monitor the area for signs of swelling, redness, warmth to the touch, and pus. These are signs of infection, and if you see them, you will need to take him into the vet for an exam. If he won't allow you to shave the area and becomes very agitated, then I would take him into the vet to have the area shaved and examined.

Dog fight: my dog has a neck injury under fur. Should I shave it?

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