My dog has an open wound in the face, near her eyes, almost including her eyes in the wound. It is oblong with about 1 inch wide. The flesh could already be seen. The wound had been there for months and there are no signs of drying up. Sometimes pus could be seen on the wound and the dog licks it, maybe to clean it. A vet is not accessible. No remedies had been initiated. Please suggest on how to heal the wound. THanks.

Take your dog to a vet. The idea that you keep a dog without access to veterinary services is kind of alarming.

I repeat, take the dog to a vet. Unless you are a vet you are not qualified to heal the wound yourself.

Where are you located? Perhaps we can source a vet near you.

If the wound has been open for months you really owe it to the dog to get it treated, clearly it is not going to clear up on its own, and if it is located near the eye you risk infection spreading to it and causing the dog to go blind.

Do you have any idea what could have caused it? Cut? Animal bite? Skin infection or mange? It is really hard for us to give you an answer without having any idea what this 'wound' looks like.

A vet will be able to determine exactly what it is and what course of action to take.

If your animal is injured in any way, you should get it to the vet within days, not wait months.

I am going to echo the rest here, you really should get him to a vet as soon as you can. If it has been openf or months, chances are it is infected and needs assistance to heal. In the mean time, use a clean face cloth, warm water and epsom salt ( dissolve the salt in the warm water)to clean the area, this will help cut down infection as well as help dry up the wound. I can't imagine how bad the infection would be if it has been open for months. Do you notice any odour? Some vets offer payment plans or discounted rates if money is an issue.

Why is a vet not accessible?

Is there no one in your local area who works on animals even if they aren't a vet? I know in some places farmers have to be able to care for all of their animals needs including wounds. Is there someone like that who you could turn to for help?

Are you afraid to take her to anyone? Is it money, fear of losing her, or anything else?

It would help to know what resources (other than the internet) you have available. Pharmacies, doctors who work on humans, etc. are all possible sources of aid.

Also, if you are unable to get your dog to a vet, you shouldn't be keeping a pet. It is a pet owners responsibility to be able to provide for the health of the pet, and that means a qualified veterinarian that sees your animal regularly.

Point has been made, closing this thread. To the OP if you have anymore questions or would like to respond, please PM me and I will re-open this thread. Or you can start another one and I will merge the two.

Thanks.

Hi Peachy 1111,

I strongly suspect that your dog has an abscessed tooth, the 4th premolar or "carnassial tooth" to be exact.

As has been said, accurately, many times before: "We cannot accurately diagnose here, based on what we are told." It takes more information and usually some sort of tests in order to accurately determine a problem. That is technically correct, but from a practical point of view some things are so diagnostic because of the clinical signs and even a brief description and history, that treatment may be started with only a cursory exam. Those are called 'pathognomonic symptoms'. This was the way human Medicine was practiced for generations before we even had what could be called medicines as we know them, or tests as simple as white blood counts..

Your dog's problem fits into that category, expecting your description is reasonably accurate. But, even at that, I have to give it just a strong possibility. Read the link I am giving and you can most likely decide for yourself. That is the good news. The rest of the news is that the tooth needs to come out, being the 'easiest' treatment. A root canal is another choice, but...

A broken tooth is described as the likely cause for these infections, but many times it is impossible to find any evidence of that. In fact, many such teeth appear to be completely normal, and without bother to the dog. Only the persistent wound on the face is any sign of a problem with the animal. The description contained in this link is quite complete and explanatory.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=995

I'm sorry not to be able to suggest any work around treatment for this. Antibiotics are only short term helps. The wound needs to be drained, but without taking the tooth, this is not possible, the abscess being located at the tip of one of the tooth roots, deep within the upper jawbone. I've personally not seen one of these cases more than a few months old, as most owners tire of the wound appearing to have 'healed' after their efforts at treatment, only to start draining again. They give up and finally seek professional help. I realize your problem in this area, and expect that, if your situation changes in the next several of months, you may still be able to have him successfully treated. In the meantime, keep it clean and topical medications like sulfa or nitrofurazon (Furacin)powder may be of help. We can only do what can be done. Best wishes.

I have re-opened this thread on Paleo's request, I hope the OP has come back to read the suggestions. I will keep this open in case any further discussion will arise from the above post. Let me just say, it has been made perfectly clear that the OP needs to seek medical advice from a professional veterinarian.

My sons Dog was either mauled by another animal or hit by a car. His whole right side is only flesh and his mouth has a wound on it. The inside of his leg is just open to the bone. Should I have him put down to relieve him of his injuries & pain? Our town vet is closed until Monday and we live 50 miles to the next closes one? We are keeping him warm with a blanket, and Mattress to sleep on.My son has cleand out the woulnds with peroxide.

I would drive the 50 miles to the nearest vet.

This sounds like is what is happening to my dog. Ive been to 4 different vets one being an tooth specialist another being an eye specialist. Amoxicylin or Cephylixin with a little bit of steroids seems to clear it up, but it just comes back. He had his teeth cleaned also. I am in to the problem around $ 2000. I don't know where to go at this point I don't know who to go to at this point. Help!

I suspect the tooth expert took an x-ray? And saw ? Wrong with a tooth... nothing, apparently.

What you describe, especially the 'seeming to heal, but then opening back up' is so common with a carnassial tooth abscess. I suspect this is the problem with the original poster's dog.

Unfortunately, the only cure for this problem is to extract the tooth, unless you wish to try a root canal first... most do not so choose.

Google this condition for pictures (which are almost diagnostic, especially if followed by the owners description ).