My dog was injected unknowingly with a "dirty" needle. The skin on the injection site has become hard and a soft bag has formed under the neck. Please help. Can't afford a vet at all.

We can't help you diagnose this wound on your dog's neck. There are too many variables. You will have to afford a vet if you want your dog treated properly.

How is that your dog was injected with a dirty needle, and what was in the needle? Especially in the neck.

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It is not a wound. She had a light case of billiary for which I injected her ,under the skin, on the neck with 0.5ml Terramycin LA not IN the neck. The vet (telephonicaly) the next day told me to inject her with another 1.5ml Terramycin. I asked my son to draw it up for me and he used the previous day's needle. By the time I found that out it was to late.

She has recovered from the billiary but now has a prob with the thickening of the area where the injection was given.

Whether you can afford it, she needs to see a Vet. I'm a little confused by your Vet's "self help" advice AND you having the needles/medication on hand.

I always ask what you would do if you had the problem. If you would go to a Doctor, then take the dog to a Vet. If you would do nothing, well, then I guess that's your answer.

You may have a combination of things... if the needle didn't get clear into the sub cutaneous tissue below the dermis, then it was injected mostly into the 'skin' layer, and will be hard since things aren't absorbed too well there. The soft swelling may be a hematoma, or an abscess, but abscesses take a few days to become swollen and 'puffy', and there is plenty of antibiotic at the site, one would think.

Injecting an antibiotic with a potentially 'dirty' needle would seem to be 'self correcting' due to the antibiotic at the site.

Sounds like you may be a distance from the vet, like on a ranch? Not too many people have terramycin 'on hand', otherwise. (and needles and syringes as well)

Paleophlatus - thank you for your very helpful advice. I AM on a farm very far from any kind of vet and as such we medicate, with the aid of the vet, telephonically, our own animals. It is standard practice for ranchers/farmers.

I also believe you are right with your "diagnosis" with the anitbiotics been absorbed into the top layer of the skin. The soft swelling underneath has cleared itself even though the hard area is still there. She is up and running again - chasing rats - and her appetite is back. So whatever the problem with that spot is will hopefully clear itself. Thank you once again.

Thanks for the Kudos. You may want to also consider some sort of Penicillin product. Like a procaine pen, a longer acting than just straight penicillin. Good for most respiratory infections and skin abscesses. Ranch supply, here in the US, have choices available. It is quite inexpensive, probably less than $10 US for 250 cc bottle. Ask your vet next time? The skin bump will take some time to regress, and may not completely disappear.

Thanks for the Kudos. You may want to also consider some sort of Penicillin product. like a procaine pen, a longer acting than just straight penicillin. Good for most respiratory infections and skin abscesses. Ranch supply, here in the US, have choices available. It is quite inexpensive, probably less than $10 US for 250 cc bottle. Ask your vet next time? The skin bump will take some time to regress, and may not completely disappear.


Would you address "self" medicating animals? I am concerned about the "dirty needle" aspect. Appears that a needle should be used once and then disposed of - but perhaps that is not correct.

The rating system is for incorrect answers. What about my answer was incorrect?

Well, since your first answer was rated as 'unhelpful, with no qualifiers as to just what helpful is, and, since AMHD formatting changes of late, there is no longer any way to tell who issued the + or - rating, I can only presume that you were rated by the OP, and could possibly answer 'why' yourself, by separating your comments into 'helpful', 'unhelpful', and 'critical' categories. My experience is that an OP like this lives a long way from 'civilization', and has to resort to this method to receive any help at all. First clue were the initials after his name, being nothing like any in the States, but suggestive of something of the British empire (Australia?) Their 'ranches' are measured in square miles, not acres.

I'm not aware of any law against keeping prescription medication on hand (these injectible medications, plus many others, are readily available, without prescription, at farm service type outlets nearly everywhere in the States). Same with needles and syringes. The great majority of people that have these materials use them as they were intended for, usually without prior advice. Which often lands them in big time medical trouble with their animal and can result in it's loss. Saving a few bucks is unfortunate, but it is their choice.

Yes, the OP issued the rating. I don't think my questions and comments were out of line. Obviously you do. That's what makes the World go around.

After you answer 30,000 times you stop reading into posts and simply get to what you think is the heart of the matter.