Mim Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) Daina has a sole puncture wound on her muzzle. I have cleaned it with warm saline solution. Does she need to go to the vet? Is there a high risk for infection thus requiring anti Bs? Edited February 16, 2011 by Mim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 puncture wounds can heal at the opening and trap an infection deeper in the wound where you can't clean it properly. Anitbiotics are a good idea for this type of wound, so I would go to the vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_meg Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 yes there is a greater risk of infection. I've not done antibiotics and used colloidal silver instead for some punctures. I kept the wound open, cleared the scab and flushed the wound with it. its anecdotal but this is what works for us. It is however safest to see a vet technically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) Thanks for your opinion, Becks. I think I will take her in the morning even if it looks good. She's a little trooper and acting completely normal but better safe than sorry. Should I be stopping the other dogs licking her? ETA thanks pixie meg. It's the first time I've ever had to deal with a puncture wound so I think I'll get lots of info from my vet and in the future I may go down the route of handling it myself once I'm armed with info. Edited February 16, 2011 by Mim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) My boy copped a puncture wound from another dog when he was younger. The Vet knew of his health issues and agreed at the time that antibiotics might not be the best for his system. The puncture wound was deep but he carefully flushed it out, using a pink disinfectant that looked not unlike F10 wash. He sent me home with some of that for me to continue to use to keep the wound clean and soft. I kept a close eye on the wound, checking that it was healing from the inside out and was able to avoid the use of the antibiotics. I think a Vet check for deep puncture wounds is something worthwhile particularly if you're unsure, but I don't think antibiotics are necessary in every situation if the wound is looking clean and healing well. Edited February 16, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Thanks erny. I do like to avoid anti Bs if possible because I don't want her to develop a resistance to the anti Bs and then one day she may really need them and they will be less effective and then she'd need stronger ones and blah blah blah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) Believe me, I'm very much like yourself when it comes to administration of drugs, including the antibiotics. But they are necessary sometimes - only yourself can be certain as you're the one seeing the wound. I'd probably be a bit more comfortable with a disinfectant wash that was a bit more stringent than Colloidal Silver or Saline for a deep puncture wound though, at least until I could see it was beginning to heal cleanly. That's just me though - I'm not a Vet. ETA: No offence intended, but your avatar creeps me out a bit. Edited February 16, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I always just use Ichthammol ointment on puncture wounds (or abcesses) on dogs or humans. Have never needed antibiotics yet to heal them up properly. The only time I use ABs for a wound is if it needs stitching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest english.ivy Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 My dogs have had puncture wounds and they've all cleared up without antis. Never taken them to a vet, unless there is an infection. We would just clean the wound daily with warm salt water and just keep a close eye on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Believe me, I'm very much like yourself when it comes to administration of drugs, including the antibiotics. But they are necessary sometimes - only yourself can be certain as you're the one seeing the wound. I'd probably be a bit more comfortable with a disinfectant wash that was a bit more stringent than Colloidal Silver or Saline for a deep puncture wound though, at least until I could see it was beginning to heal cleanly. That's just me though - I'm not a Vet.ETA: No offence intended, but your avatar creeps me out a bit. What's creepy about my dogs face being superimposed on to that of a human? I am sane. Don't worry. I'm going to go ahead with a vet visit and just say I only want anti Bs if they are necessary. My vet is very happy to go along with his clients wishes so I will probably get some cleaning instructions and if it gets worse we will go back. I probably wouldn't be worried about infection except that the dog that caused the puncture has badly cared for, worn down teeth with lots of tartar and the dog likes to eat poo so there's lots of nasties in there I'm guessing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttaburra Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I recently treated a not too deep puncture wound on the top of my dog's head, the wound was caused by the other dogs fang. I pushed some Manuka Honey with active ingredients (see labels) into the wound. Good improvment next day, wound healing from inside to out. Applied more Manuka Honey. Monitored for next week as it gradually healed up quite well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ark Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 ETA: No offence intended, but your avatar creeps me out a bit. What's creepy about my dogs face being superimposed on to that of a human? :laugh: I have used colloidal silver for human ailments with some apparent results (much to the horror of my mother). We had a scrap between our two female greyhounds the other day, resulting in a few puncture wounds - took them to the vet and asked if antibiotics were required but he wasn't at all worried as the wounds were open and as long as we kept them clean he didn't think they were required. Update: both girls are doing well, and are even good friends again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I would want to know what caused the puncture. If you don't know, see a vet. If it's a cat bite the likelihood of abcess is high. If it's a nail, there's a tetanus risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Thanks erny. I do like to avoid anti Bs if possible because I don't want her to develop a resistance to the anti Bs and then one day she may really need them and they will be less effective and then she'd need stronger ones and blah blah blah. your dog does no develop a resistance to antibiotics, the target bacteria potentially do. If your dog needs them, she needs them to simply prevent the spread of nasty bacteria, which love oxygen free environments like puncture wounds Deeper wounds that I cant pull open regularly I will give antibiotics too to avoid a potential abcess festering underneath or a systemic infection If you dont want to take her, keep picking the scab off to allow the air in, and make an iodine solution the colour of weak tea and squirt it into the puncture when it looks goopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rottifan Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Go to the chemist and buy original (yellow liquid) human mouthwash called "Cepacol". Buy a spray bottle - the top of the spray bottle will fit on the 500ml bottle of Cepacol. Whenever you walk past your dog spray the would with this stuff until its running off - dont be shy. I was told this by an old animal wiz - said our mouth bacteria are the hardiest and worst and this stuff can kill that and is also great for stopping any infections and helping wounds to heal - seen proof that it works on its own with nothing else applied to be nasty dog fight wounds and even a very venemous snake bite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 (edited) Go to the chemist and buy original (yellow liquid) human mouthwash called "Cepacol". Buy a spray bottle - the top of the spray bottle will fit on the 500ml bottle of Cepacol. Whenever you walk past your dog spray the would with this stuff until its running off - dont be shy. I was told this by an old animal wiz - said our mouth bacteria are the hardiest and worst and this stuff can kill that and is also great for stopping any infections and helping wounds to heal - seen proof that it works on its own with nothing else applied to be nasty dog fight wounds and even a very venemous snake bite! I don't know anything about the use of Cepacol on wounds - sounds good on the surface. Need to look into it further but thank you for the tip. But you're not suggesting the Cepacol cured the dog of the venom that would have been injected by the snake, are you? If the dog survived that without treatment beyond a spray of Cepacol, I'd be suggesting it wasn't invenomated (word?). Edited February 20, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 cepacol is fine to use on wounds at the concentration in mouthwash. Can irritate the skin in sensitive individuals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 (edited) The next day a scab had formed so I picked that off and a bunch of puss oozed out. Gave it a clean and it looked pretty good so we decided to watch it and it is healing beautifully. I've just been washing with warm salty water then pat dry and apply betadine. No signs of infection and it is healing from the inside out. I am wondering if it will scar a bit but only time will tell. Edited February 20, 2011 by Mim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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