Is there any way to treat an open wound on a dog without having go to the veterinarian?

Question

My parents' dog got into a fight with a big dog, and he has a huge open wound on his hip, and they don't have enough money to take him the vet. He's in A LOT of pain, and I don't know what to do. I really want to be able to help. If there is anyone out there, please help!!!!

Answer 1

Bite wounds:
Check the wound for contamination or debris. If significant debris is present, then clean the wound with large amounts of saline solution. ( four teaspoons of salt to one quart of boiled water, to use when it cools enough to not burn) Wrap large open wounds to keep them clean. Apply pressure to profusely bleeding wounds. Do not use a tourniquet. Wear gloves when possible.
Bite wounds often become infected and need professional care. Call your veterinarian .
http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=81&sid=1

Bite wounds:
Always use caution when approaching or handling an animal that is injured by bite wounds or trauma. If they are in pain they may bite out of reflexive self-protection when at no other time would they bite anyone. Use a muzzle if needed. Flush the wound well with warm water and try to clip fur from any wounds. Topical bacitracin can be applied to a skin break. It is important to note that bite wounds are a combination of penetrating and crushing damage. A small hole in the skin can mask severe tearing of tissues and bleeding hidden beneath the skin. Gently wrap any skin tears with bandaging material and apply direct pressure to a site that displays active bleeding. Bite wounds usually become infected, so it is very important to have a veterinarian assess any bite wound because even the most innocent bite wound has potential to become seriously infected. Oral antibiotics may be needed... not to mention surgery to repair deeper damage inflicted beneath the skin. First aid for bite wounds should be considered only as a first response; evaluation by a veterinarian is very important for proper assessment and recovery< http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/faid.html#Bite%20wounds

Those are from two veterinary first aid sites.

Answer 2

How large/deep is the wound? What is the rabies vaccine status of your dog and the other dog? If the other dog attacked yours, get your dog/animal control officer involved.
Do not give aspirin to your dog, it is a blood thinner and if he's bleeding a lot, it can interfere with his clotting abilities. Rubbing alcohol on a very painful, awake dog with a gaping wound is not recommended. It does need to be properly cleaned (and flushed with saline) with a nolvasan solution, betadine, sterile saline (as your vet would do).
Do not superglue or use a needle and thread to sew the wound shut. If your vet did suture it, proper suture material would be used.
The wound needs to be properly clipped and cleaned (preferably while your dog is under sedation as it's the least cruel way as you have said he's in a great deal of pain).
If the wound is large enough, it may communicate further underneath his skin and often drains are placed to help rid the body of infection.
Antibiotics are a must and pain medication is a nice plus.
At the very least, call an emergency hospital and explain the details to them.
Leaving a large wound untreated will likely lead to problems down the road...

Answer 3

I am sorry to here this and I can see your heart is in the right place so I think you know what has to be done. You really must take your dog to a vet. If you were severely hurt I would assume your parents would get you medical attention right away regardless of how much it would cost. Coming from someone who views all her animals as her babies... I apply the same concept. This dog can't take care of itself. Its can't just take itself to the doctor. I know that vet bills can be a bit pricey and when things like this arise, it can be difficult to make ends meet but this dog depends on you for its well being. I would try contacting the owner of the other dog involved and see if you can work something out with them. Or talking to some clinics and vets to see if there is anyway they could work out some sort of payment plan with your parents. I am sure that if it is possible they will work something out with you. They didn't enter the field they are in out of lack of compassion for animals well being and they will want to see him back to good health also.

Good luck. I really hope that everything works out.

<3 Laura

Answer 4

This is serious, the dog needs professional medical help no matter what. he could get a bad infection and die. it is illegal not seeking proper medical care for a pet. the consequences could be a fine much bigger than any vet bill or even jail time. Some vets may have lower rates, a payment plan or offer free services depending on the situation. You could see if there is an ASPCA in your are and call them.
In the mean time, keep him calm and hydrated. Keep his wound clean(might be difficult if hes super sensitive)

Answer 5

Firstly, calm him down and give him half an aspirin. Then, clean the wound using alcohol on a cotton swab.

You should probably shave the area around the wound if it is very large.

Following that, take a needle and sanitize it using some alcohol, and take a piece of clean white thread, and using the needle, sew the wound. Place neosporin on the wound, and clean it daily. Keep the dog off of his leg however you can.

Alternatively, clean the wound, and superglue the wound shut.

Watch for signs of infection, and of rabies.

The best bet is a vet, but if you must, you should sew or glue it together and keep it clean.

HE PROBABLY NEEDS ANTIBIOTICS AT THE LEAST!

Answer 6

any way we can tell you will almost always end up at the vet a few days later with either festering puss filled wound or the dog has loss of blood lethargy and even possibly dying. you should work out a plan with a vet in town see what they can do, also try and get the other dogs owner to pay foe what happened if it was their fault and if you know who they are.
good luck


to the person above me aspirin is a blood thinner and should be given as order by a vet not by some person who does not know the pharmicokenetics of the drug. it could cause the dog to bleed out, it messes with the coagulation factors

Answer 7

If it's a big open wound you really need to take him to the vet, so they can prescribe medication for infections & pain. My lab got an inch wound but deep before. I didn't take him to the vet. I cleaned his wound with hydrogen peroxide & put neospirin ointment on it. Since his wound was in his front leg, I placed elizabeth collar on him to avoid licking. I also loosely wrapped his wound with bandage cloth when his outside to avoid from flies. The good thing was that I had some left over prescribed (cephalexin) from his previous wound & I fed it to him that eased his fever & dried up his wound quickly.
I still recommend for you to see a vet.

Answer 8

Well your parents can be like the w(b)itch who live up the street from me and treat the wound without a vets advice and care.Their dog that was attacked by another dog had his shoulder ripped open.They cleaned it with peroxide,put antibiotic ointment in the deep wound and watch him die 2 weeks later from a severly infected shoulder.

Answer 9

Uhmm..
its probably better if you take the dog to the vet anyways.
If your parents can't afford the bills, you can sign off the dog to the humane society and the dog won't be yours anymore.
I also beleive its against the law to not treat a pet that has an injury.

Answer 10

I am sorry to say that you have to take him to a Vet. It is cruel and inhumane not to. This may sound harsh but if you cannot afford to care for the dog, you should give it up to someone who can...hopefully to a no kill shelter. If you wait till the dog is infected and dies, you could be charged with animal cruelty. It is against the law to neglect an animal