Loki has a weird puncture wound right on the top of his head. It is a clean little hole slightly smaller than a pencil in diameter and about 1/4 inch deep.
It's not a bite wound as I have been here all day so the only things I can come up with is a screw somewhere sticking out of something or he shoved his head under the fence and the chain link got him.
It hasn't bled at all and the tissue around it isn't swollen, its really just a chunk missing.
But I feel like I need to clean and medicate it to avoid infection especially on the head where it's so close to the brain and eyes etc.
But what do I use to clean a puncture wound?
Are peroxide and neosporin safe? I know when I had piercings you were never supposed to use either on fresh punctures.
Hi Jennifer,
I would just keep it clean with mild soap and water. If it were my dog, I would just gently cleanse it daily, using a clean 4x4 gauze pad for each cleaning, to keep it from forming a scab so it will heal from inside out, or from the bottom of the puncture and fill up with healthy tissue.
If it starts to look infected...red,swollen or with drainage (pus) I would have a vet check it out. But I bet thats unlikely
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
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Jennifer,
Max (bloodhound) got into it with my Lab (a long time ago) and Marley put a good size hole in the top of his head.
Vet would not stitch due to the risk of an infection and he was concerned about Max's olfactory system being affected.
So, warm water with Nolvasan was what I used to keep it clean and then I also used an ointment with a fly repellent (will have to find the tube) around the outside of the puncture....
The Nolvasan solution worked well.
I actually keep a gallon of the concentrate on hand...works well for cleaning minor scrapes and cuts. (I use it for the horses as well)
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
Thanks!
I found the bottle of band-aid hurt free antiseptic foaming stuff and used it since I was the only one here and didn't want anything that would sting or burn since I'm not strong enough to hold him down on my own.
I bet using a warm compress with sea salt saline would be good too, I have taken care of some nasty kitty puncture wounds but never on a dog and I got a little panicked.
I don't see how this thing didn't, I guess dogs aren't like people with anything on the head bleeding like crazy!
Try some Carona Ointment. It's an antseptic cream. I used it this summer when I found a feral cat with a bad leg wound. When I found him the wound was full of maggots with bone showing and I was thinking of just having him PTS. A neighbor loaned me some ointment. I cleaned the wound three times a day with peroxide and a generous layer of Corona. Ten days later he was up and walking on his own and the wound was completely closed.
It's made for livestock but it can also be used on people. I used the ointment on a finger where the cat had bitten me while doctoring it and it started to get infected. Some ointment under a band aid overnight and the infection was gone.
Hi Jennifer, I agree with everything said. Mild soap and water and antiseptic cream should work. Warm compresses twice a day will also help. If it starts swelling or showing signs of pus, you may need antibiotics. To bad, it is on top of his head, just him licking it would keep it clean and keep it from closing up before healing underneath. Both of my dogs have had open wounds on their front legs and they both healed nicely. They now wear neoprene sleeves that protect that area of their front legs as it is a common injury when working dogs in trees.
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