Puncture Wound Injuries on Dogs

Puncture wounds in dogs can be be fairly serious. Once another animal's tooth, or an object such as a staple or nail, penetrates the skin, it may cause significant damage to the tissue around and under the wound. Even relatively small wounds can hide bruising and other damage. See your vet if your dog has been bitten or received another type of puncture wound.

  1. Causes

    • Dogs can get puncture wound injuries from a number of sources, including animal bites, fish hooks, thorns, nails and other building materials. Dogs that roam are more likely to encounter dangerous objects than dogs kept at home, but even a fight in the dog park could result in an injury. Inspect your dog regularly to keep these types of injuries from becoming infected.

    Considerations

    • You'll need to care for puncture wounds differently depending on whether the wound has penetrated the skin completely or is more superficial. Wounds that don't go all the way through the skin can simply be cleaned with a mild disinfectant and dressed with antibiotic ointment. Repeat the process twice a day until the wound is healed. A more serious puncture wound will require treatment from your vet.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Reduce the chance that your dog will get a puncture wound by supervising it whenever it is outside, minimizing indoor hazards and keeping your dog away from other animals that might bite. Even relatively small animals such as cats can produce a nasty wound. Keep your dog safe by keeping an eye on it, and make sure you know where your pet is going when you're not around.

    Warning

    • Puncture wounds caused by hooks, porcupine quills or any object with a barb need careful treatment. Make sure to clip off the barb or hook end before attempting to slide it out. For small objects, you may require tweezers and a sterile needle. Don't allow any material to remain in the wound, and never simply pull a hook out of your dog's skin.

    Infection

    • An untreated puncture wound may become infected. If you see swelling or redness around the area, or if your dog seems to be in pain, contact your vet. Infections must be treated with antibiotics. Serious ones may need to be physically drained to reduce the inflammation. Never wait and see if the swelling goes down on its own. An infected puncture wound can go from needing simple antibiotic treatment to requiring surgery in only a day or two.