Great Dane ripped open....

[chicklady63]

I'm so sorry this happened to your dog. I know it will amke you nervous now about her being out.

I agree I would make certain her rabies shot is in order - which I'm sure you have. I had a very similar gash happen to one of my German shepherds along the length of her muzzle. (It was from the long, viscious thorn of a very old rose bush. She went after a frisbee that ended up in the middle of the rose bush.) The gash was about 31/2 inches long and you could see the musculature beneath. I used the product Liquid Bandage first which didn't work so well, but did seem to have some ingredient that cleaned the wound. Then I went to brush-on nail glue to mend the tear, holding it until it dried - which doesn't take too long. I reapplied the glue a couple of times and she healed very well - with absolutely no infection and no scar. I have heard they often use glue instead of stitches in ER now. It also works well for any cut on your hand especially one on a joint as it stays on and protects the cut from repeated tearing. I recommend using it. I just threw the bottle away after she was well (to avoid any cross-contamination).
The puncture wounds are probably more likely to get infected as someone already said. I think the other poster who had experience with that type of wound had good advice.
Good luck!

 

[ranchhand]

I'd already be at the vet clinic- my dogs have gotten similar wounds, and once the vet told me to super glue it. I didn't have any, so he said well, bring him in. When he saw the wound he said he was glad I had come in, super glue would have been a bad choice. So my opinion is vet trip.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

They dont look serious at all. I'd get a syringe and flush them out with some warm water and some hydrogen peroxide. If you can shave around them thats great too, if not dont worry.

make sure you flush them out! After than throw some bag balm on them and tape a bandage over them until they scab over in a day or so.

Our dane was CONSTANTLY cutting his pads, or puncturing them on glass and nails. I swear it drove me nuts. Ones he severed half his big pad off... it was hanging by a little thread of skin. But there was still blood flow to it so I taped it back together as best I could, taped a sock to it, and waited a few days. Inside a week it was whitest and a little gray, but it was fine.

Dogs heal very well and quiet easily. Just flush it out as puncture wounds from bites can harbor lots of bacteria.

iam not a big vet person. i dont go to the doctor myself until my body is failing. All vets say its good to come in, or good you did, naturally, they get to charge you an arm and a leg for it. lol. I've gone through so many vets and issues over the years I've gotten pretty good at making the call to go to stay for my dogs. You'll have to make that call obviously, but i would just flush it and cover it until it scabs.

 

[rooster0209]

You should also shave the hair around the wound. Clean with peroxide (my vet uses peroxide and recommends it) very thoroughly and apply antibiotic ointment. If the dog licks the wound or can get to the wound then and e-collar maybe necessary.

Watch the wound carefully, so an abcess does not form. If it heals/scabs over on the outside and an abcess forms, you will have to open it up and drain it. Not pretty and usually a bit painful for the dog.

 

[DiVon80]

The large wound will probably need to be stiched... The punctures need to be cleaned and flushed and may need to be put on antibiots. My concern is rabies if the dog is innoculated he should be o.k. But, you handeling the dog and putting your hands where there may be saliva. You could end up with it. Always be careful when handeling a dog after a situtation like this expecially if they tangled with wildlife.

 

[Turtle]

Quote:
yes you should take her in and have her given another rabies shot just incase. You can never be too cautious with rabies

 

[sundance]

take her to the vet immediately,a bull dog jumped on my yorkie and had deep puncture wounds like that, vet said they are the most dangerous since the germs get down inside them, I had already washed them out with peroxide but still had to take him glad I did marrie

 

[ravencreek]

Thanks for all the replies. Since this happened late last night there weren't any vets open. She went this morning and I was sitting outside the door BEFORE the vet even showed up. He looked her over but said she would be fine. He did find more punctures than the one I did but they were smaller. He poked around on the puncture but said that the skin hadn't been separated from the muscle so he wasn't all that concerned. He washed the open wound and told me to just keep it clean. He said NO peroxide or alcohol. Just keep an eye on it and remove the scab on the punctures to drain daily. Gave her a rabies booster, some antibiotic shots and sent us home. She goes back in a week for a check.



Just wanted to add: The open wound is on her chest and the puncture(s) are more on her neck.

 

[BellLisamo]

Quote:
Im sorry this happened! My "next dopr" Dane, hes mine but lives with my neighbor ahhaha, always rips himself open. I have always used peroxide, why did your vet say no????

 

[Bluemoon420]

I've had many dogs over the years. 4 as of right now lol. I've dealt with many wounds of all sorts, and always used peroxide. My vet has even used peroxide. We also use neosporin ( the one without pain medication in it) If it starts to smell, it's infected. You'll know it when you smell it.
I'm glad it wasn't too serious.


Bluemoon