Many dogs suffer puncture wounds when they are doing the simplest of things, such as playing in their yard. Other dogs suffer puncture wounds when other animals attack them or when their owners are not being as careful as they should. Puncture wounds dont have to be all that serious, but they do need to be treated and cared for in a specific way.
Symptoms
Treating punctures in dogs is something that can take many different forms. Punctures often appear after a dog has been bitten by another animal, after they have collided with something such as a glass door, glass shards, barbed wire, or edges of tin cans. The area may be bleeding, red, or swollen or a combination of these two things. This may cause pain for the dog and they may also present with limping and symptoms of this nature depending on the severity and location of the wound.
Prevention
Preventing punctures in dogs is not always possible, but you can take steps to make sure that your dog will not suffer any unnecessary puncture wounds. First, you can be sure that there is never any glass or anything of this sort for your dog to step on in their normal areas of play. You will also want to make sure that feeding of dogs and other pets is done separately so that there is no fighting over food, and you should also make sure to keep all garden sheers and this sort of thing up so that your dog will not step on it or come into contact with them in anyway.
Treatment
The treatment of a puncture wound will really depend on the severity of the wound. If it is a small puncture wound you may be able to clean it out, removing any debris, and bandage it up for a few days and find that it heals well. Start by clipping the hair from around the wound so you can get a good look at the wounds and also ensure that they are all cleaned. If the wound is quite deep or severe it may require that the pet be brought to the vet. In most cases, the vet will need to sedate the dog to remove any dead or damaged tissue and to clean the wound. The dog may need to wear bandages and receive antibiotics for a few days after the treatment. Depending on where the wound is located it may be necessary to keep an Elizabethan collar on the dog to keep it from licking the wound, causing infection.
