A Dog With Skin Abrasions

Finding skin abrasions, or scrapes, on your dog can be frightening, especially if you don't know why they're there. It could be worse, though, if they were lacerations, which often require more concerted medical care. Unless other symptoms are present, like a loss of hair or the forming of pus, your dog also has likely avoided contracting any of the multitude of skin conditions or diseases that afflict hundreds of other dogs around the world. Nevertheless, abrasions can signal other problems you may need to correct.

  1. What It Is

    • Knowing how to identify a skin abrasion on your dog's coat is important. It you have the wrong idea of what an abrasion looks like, you could be misdiagnosing your dog's injuries and stalling proper treatment. Abrasions are patches of skin with hair and much of the epidermis removed, bearing a red or pink tint, some crusting and maybe some minor pus. Some may have developed to the point of concessional bleeding. Observing your dog's habits can clue you in to how it was injured.

    Causes

    • One of the more common ways in which a dog will exhibit abrasions is through excessive scratching. This can be due to an allergic reaction or a fleas problem, which should be corrected as quickly as possible through a bath and regular flea treatments. Any number of accidents could also cause your dog to have scraped skin, from colliding with a car or a fight with another animal to being dragged by its collar or repeatedly squeezing into a tight spot.

    Minor Care

    • If your dog is constantly scratching to the point of developing abrasions, you need to take care of its flea problem and perhaps have a cleaning day for your home. Caring for the abrasions takes more effort. If your dog will need a bath due to fleas, he'll appreciate it much more if his wounds are wrapped up before you give him one. If minor, you should treat the abrasion at home by gently cleaning the wound with mild soapy water and patting it dry. Apply antibiotic ointment to the area several times a day, as recommended by the ointment's manufacturer.

    Serious Care

    • If your dog's abrasions are more widespread or mysterious, you should take your pet to a veterinarian for care. A veterinarian can help you wrap more serious abrasions with the aid of anesthetic, so your animal is more comfortable and doesn't continue to injure the area. Your veterinarian also will be astute at identifying any other skin problems your dog's exhibiting, from abscesses or a parasitic invasion to thyroid conditions that cause skin problems.