A dog just bit my dog in the ear. What to do

[bobs123]

When dog walking this morning a white german shepherd had a go at my dog. It was only a bit later when I noticed the blood. there is a cut going from the end of his ear reaching over an inch up. the very end bit is open.

He is a labrador over 15 years and I don't want the trauma of an operation. I have cleaned the wound with cooled boiled salted water. He is already on anti inflammatories for his back legs which should help.

WWYD?

By the way, after cleaning him up I left him to drip blood in the kitchen while I went back to try to find the owner of the other dog. I gather ear woulds bleed a lot, but other than that he does not seem too bothered...I think!

Money is tight for me atm, otherwise I'd have him straight to the vet

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

He needs vet as it could get infected especially if left open, sorry

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

If money tight could try PDSA, but you have to provide him with veterinary care.

[bobs123]

Might it not just heal on it's own if kept clean?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Personally I think a vet needs to see and decide that. Maybe one will be along to say differently.

[tabulahrasa]

Vet, hopefully it'll just need glueing, but it'll more than likely just keep bleeding otherwise.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Dog mouths have a lot of bacteria in them too.

[bobs123]

Ok it's stopped bleeding now but the ear is separated for approx ½" at the bottom

[tabulahrasa]

Because it's on his ear it'll reopen really easily - like when he shakes his head.

And it can't knit together unless there something holding it together...that sounds more like it might need stitches rather than glue.

[bobs123]

Ok booked him in for 10 o'clock.

Guess I'll have to hunting for the other dog's owner at a later date, bill in hand

Thanks for the advice

[EasyToEatTiger]

Hope it all goes well. Our old dog had a lot of bits of ear missing. The dog what did it nearly had to be rehomed because of it, but we ended up muzzling him. It's a real bloody nuiscance. Get better soon!

[tabulahrasa]

My dog had an ear tear last year...I got the money back from the other owner, but, I live in a small town and it was pretty easy to find out where he lived.

[bobs123]

Ok been - ear clip, stitches and antibiotics. £93 so far plus another consult in 10 days to take the stitches out. Could have been worse but could do without it at this time!

Will be out first thing tomorrow to find the guy...

Thanks for the help

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Not what you need eh.

hope he heals soon

[GraysAnalogy]

Hope he's okay, poor little thing

[bobs123]

Think I'm more upset than he is...he's asleep!

Btw for anyone who finds this thread at some point in the future, the vet said his ear could not be glued because it would form a barrier between the 2 pieces of ear and stop the two bits knitting together