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My dog has a deep accidental cut. Should I take him to the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | neutered | 1 year old

I was removing a knot in wish’s hair behind his hair when I accidentally cut his skin. The cut is about 3/4 of an inch in length and about 2 mm deep. I only noticed it 13-14 hours later. He doesn’t seem to be in pain. There is little to no bleeding. Should I take him to the vet?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 31st, 2018

It's a bit difficult to tell from these pictures, but it does appear deep and wide enough that it will need stitches. It's best to take him to a vet soon, because the wound will heal better the sooner it is cleaned and stitched. For now, you can flush the wound using a syringe or other dispensing device with warm water for five minutes. This may not be easy, because dogs tend to hate water getting near their face. I recommend having someone help you with holding Wish to make sure the wound gets flushed well. Infection is the biggest concern with these wounds; so after flushing, it's best to apply an antibacterial cream to the wound. Your vet will be able to advise further treatment after evaluating it. I hope that helps and Wish gets better soon.

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