Dog has open wound, no vet. What emergency care can I give at home?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
my dog has an open wound. no vets are available right now. what should i do?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on October 13th, 2019
That is a very large wound and it needs stitches. I strongly recommend you find a vet to see him as soon as you can. The longer you wait the more difficult it will be to close with stitches. In the meantime just keep the wound clean and dry. I would love to recommend a product for you to use but you did not provide your correct location so I'm afraid there is not much I can recommend at this time. If you would like to post again with your correct location we may be able to help you more.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 9th, 2019
Ouch! If your vet is not open and the wound is very bad or painful, I would see if they have an emergency line you can call for an on-call vet or direction to an ER clinic near you. Otherwise, I would try to keep the wound as clean and dry as possible, stop any bleeding with pressure, and place an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Tonny until you can be seen by your vet in the morning.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My friend's dog was injured today and she's worried about the wound but is scared she can't pay for it. Would it be possible to have an estimate for this wound?
You need to get an estimate from a local vet. We are not a vet clinic. Prices vary depending on your location and prices also vary from clinic to clinic. Now, that being said, that looks like a bite wound and if it is, usually vets will not stitch them closed for fear of trapping bacteria in the skin. So, if your friend wants to try to just keep the wound very clean for the next 5-7 days it may heal up on it's own. It may also get infected even if she tries to keep it clean and if that happens she will need to get her to a vet for treatment at that time. For wound cleaning I suggest DILUTE betadine or chlorhexidine solution. You can buy them at any pharmacy. Mix a 1:10 dilution of cleaner with water. Clean it 2-3 times a day. After cleaning, dry it thoroughly and apply a thin layer of Neosporin (or generic comparable). DO NOT use hydrogen peroxide. Hope this helps. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Our dogs outside so them getting hurt isn't uncommon.i was feeding them before i left for work and saw that Thor fur looked a little ruffled. Getting the other dogs away I found an open wound that had been bleeding but seemed to have stopped there is
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Thor! Based on your picture, I think Thor needs stitches. It will heal faster and with a less chance for infection if you take him to the Vet. If you absolutely can not take him, the fur should be shaved away, the wound cleaned with a mild soap and water twice daily and a triple antibiotic applied twice daily after cleaning. He would need to wear an E-collar to prevent licking or a T-shirt. You can also call your local SPCA and see if they have a low cost Veterinary Clinic. I hope this helps and I wish Thor a speedy recovery!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
A stray dog arrived at my home and his scrotum is ripped open. It looks like he was beaten and left for dead. I would love to keep him but I don't have the money for a vet and I know if I call animal control they will just put him down. Is there any
This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths (twice or three times daily). Always handle this type of wound with gloves when you touch it and wash carefully your hands. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
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.
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs ball is deeply cuted and there are bacteria swarming on it what can i do now all the vets are closed. We were away for home for few days and we told the people we rented to look after it but they were careless. Is there something that can be
Ouch! If your vet is not open and the wound is very bad or painful, I would see if they have an emergency line you can call for an on-call vet or direction to an ER clinic near you. Otherwise, I would try to keep the wound as clean and dry as possible, stop any bleeding with pressure, and place an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Tonny until you can be seen by your vet in the morning.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I was wondering if you were able to tell me if my dog needs stitches or if it can heal on it’s own or how I should go about it. I cleaned it really good and it’s wrapped up right now just not sure how I should deal with it ?
That looks like it could use some sutures to close it. It doesn't appear too deep, mainly in the skin, but leaving a wound open, even with frequent bandage changes, increases the risk of infection. I recommend getting your vet to have a look and do some wound care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I don't know if it was a stick or something else, but my dog just came inside with a puncture like wound on the top of his foot. He sat still long enough for me to look and take a pic. I was able to lift the hair out of the way and it's almost like a
Ouch, poor Sam! Thanks for providing pictures of his wound. Yes, I would say this would require a stitch or two to close up so it can heal properly and keep it from getting infected. If you could get him to a vet now to have it sutured, that would best, but if you can't take him into the vet first thing in the morning. Until then, keep it clean and dry, and put an Ecollar on Sam to keep him from licking at it. I will put a link below on how to make one at home. I hope this helps :-) http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What should I do to treat an open wound on my dog?
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Duffy. If the wound is deep and/or long, then you need to take him into a vet immediately for stitches. If it is shallow and superficial, then you can treat it at home. I would gently clean his wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I got it to stop bleeding and my mom to skip to vet (he's caught up on all vaccinations) but he was fighting vet because of pain so vet didn't get a good look vet gave us some infection medicine but it looks like hole has gotten bigger what can I buy
It is not likely you can "fix" the hole at home. It looks like it needed to be stitched up when it happened as it is very deep. It should heal on it's own (which we call healing by second intention) but it will take quite a bit of time. The best topical you can put on that would be Silver Sulfadiazine cream (Silvadene). You can buy it at most pharmacies over the counter. It is a cream they use on burns in humans. It is great for all wound healing. Apply a thin layer twice a day.
Other than that just keep it clean. DO NOT use peroxide to clean it. That will delay healing!!! Use dilute betadine solution or just use warm water.
The best option is to have it surgically repaired. That way it will heal the fastest. I cannot tell you how much it will be. You will have to check with your local vets as the cost varies widely from clinic to clinic. I would say average would be $500.
I hope this helps. If you have more questions please feel free to post again.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has something on his head
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. Based on the photo you provided, it appears as though Stitch has an abrasion that may be secondarily infected. It does not look very deep based on the photo. If you are unable to get to a veterinarian to have this looked at right away, you can use a diluted solution of betadine and saline (mixed together until you have a light brown liquid) and use this to clean the abrasion of any contaminants. Once clean, you can then use a topical cream such as Sentry Topical Wound cream (applied to the area twice daily until resolved) found at your local Petco. I would also recommend that you use a plastic cone around his head to help prevent him from rubbing his head, which would further worsen the area. If this does not improve or it worsens, I would then recommend having a veterinarian examine Stitch so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if yo
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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