My dog was bitten by another dog. Should I take her to the vet?

Question

Ok today I was walking my dog Darby then this Pitbull comes running to my dog (right across my house that’s not dog friendly). He starts biting Darby and grabbing her by the neck and head but thankfully the owner comes and tries opening the pitbull’s mouth. Then this is what the pitbull did to my dog. I cleaned it up not sure what else to do, vet?? Also will my dog hate dogs from now on? What should I do? It was very traumatizing. It really hurts her, she won’t let me clean it much. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 1 year and 8 months old | 38 lbs

Catherine Stecyk · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear about Darby, I can imagine that was very scary for both of you! I would recommend having Darby seen by a veterinarian as soon as you can. Dog bite wounds can be very extensive, beyond what you can see on the surface. There can be significant soft tissue injury that you cannot see, and a wound that looks like a small puncture can actually have deep pocketing and tissue damage. Also, dog bite wounds are very prone to becoming infected, as the bacteria in a dog's mouth can infect your dog's skin and prevent the wounds from healing. Your veterinarian will likely want to sedate Darby so he/she can clip the hair around the wounds and clean them out. Based on Darby's physical exam, your veterinarian may also recommend x-rays to look for evidence of other trauma, such as lung contusions (bruises) or fractures. Your veterinarian can also prescribe pain medications and antibiotics. As a reminder, NEVER give dogs pain medication which is intended for humans, as they can be fatally toxic to dogs. Darby may be scared of dogs for a little while after this event, which is to be expected. I hope this is helpful, and good luck with Darby!

My dog was bitten by another dog. Should I take her to the vet?

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