Dog Community

Scratched His Face...

Posted : 5/28/2006 11:51:52 AM

We hike on trail in the woods on the weekends, and Wes runs in the woods alongside the trail... Today he somehow scratched up the side of his face (surface scrapes, but pretty big) if seems like it was probably just from him charging through the brush - but we can't be sure.

It is not bothering him, I washed it out with clean water (no soap or anything) and dried it with a clean towel... I thought I might put some antibiotic ointment (like bacitracin or neosporin) on it - is this safe or helpful at all for dogs? Do we need to go to the vet, or just watch that it doesn't get infected?

pumaward

Posted : 5/28/2006 12:10:27 PM

Maddi did almost the same thing, except it's small and she got loose on me out in the woods.

How big is it?

If it's just a surface scrape and not to large, I personally wouldn't worry. You could put an antibacterial ointment on it as long as it's not where he can lick it or get it in his eyes.

schleide

Posted : 5/28/2006 12:15:48 PM

It is a scrape (like a skinned knee - no deeper) probably a little bigger than the size of a quarter (but it is probably two or three separate scratches, not one huge scrape). It is actually in the "perfect" location as far as licking or eyes - is is right on his cheek. Maybe when he is ready for a nap I will put some ointment on (since I didn't use soap or anything to clean it)...

loveukaykay

Posted : 5/28/2006 2:49:04 PM

If you have an extra one of those little spray bottles around you can put some hydrogen peroxide in it and spray in on there. If you put ointment on it I would only leave it there for a day or so, then let it dry out and heal.

schleide

Posted : 5/28/2006 4:13:33 PM

Thanks! I will do that, if I can find some... or just put a tiny bit of ointment to stave off infection and then just leave it... Hopefully it will just heal up within a few days like the scratches he sometimes gets on his belly... I was just nervous since it is on his face (poor guy is going to be missing some fur there for a while.)

jeano

Posted : 5/28/2006 7:21:22 PM

I wouldn't spray hydrogen peroxide near his eyes. If you need to disinfect it, use a paper towel dampened with hydrogen peroxide. But I bet you don't need to.

Wipe some triple antibiotic ointment on there lightly. I bet he'll be fine. [

]

loveukaykay

Posted : 5/28/2006 8:48:23 PM

Well yeah cover the eyes... thought that was a given... I like the idea of spraying because in case its painful you dont have to rub anything on it or touch it, but being gentle with a cotton ball or something would work too[

]

schleide

Posted : 5/29/2006 10:59:21 AM

Thanks guys - I didn't even need to put anything on there (although had I sprayed I definitely would have blocked his eyes)... it is now just skin colored, as if someone just pulled out some chunks of his fur (poor pup)... So, I think we are ok - I will just keep an eye on it...

jeano

Posted : 5/29/2006 2:56:16 PM

The reason I brought it up is that remember, we are on the internet, and hundreds of people are reading what we write. For some, blocking the eyes might not be a given, so we have to be careful to write down complete instructions. No insult was meant.

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Posted : 5/29/2006 4:04:17 PM

You did the right thing, thats really all the vet could do, keep them clean and put stuff on it. I hear that neosporin is the safest for them. Rory dosnt have ANY fur on her tummy so everytime we go to the forest (which is at least 3 times a week) she gets heavily scrathced on her undercarriage. Sometimes its bad, it might bleed, and sometimes its smaller scratches depending on the bush but its no big deal!

loveukaykay

Posted : 5/29/2006 5:37:33 PM

The reason I brought it up is that remember, we are on the internet, and hundreds of people are reading what we write. For some, blocking the eyes might not be a given, so we have to be careful to write down complete instructions. No insult was meant.

I didnt take any[

], sorry if it seemed that way.