anybody know how to treat a dog that's been bitten by another dog?

[GluteusMaxiMum]

My dogs have had a fight and one of them has a cut on her head. It's not bleeding but it's open so much I can see her skull (or the soft membrane covering it - I think!) She doesn't seem bothered by it but because it's from another dog, I'm worried about bacteria and infection.

Bank holiday and no vets open. Any ideas?

TIA

emergency vets for a cut that deep

cover with a sterile dressing from your own first aid kit in the mean time

Oh shit. I live in the bumhole of nowhere and there are no emergency vets. What the hell will I do?

I've googled and all I can find is 'put peroxide on it'. I don't have any of that either.

If I rinse it with clean water and dettol will she be ok until the morning do you think?

alcohol? like whisky, brandy etc? just a thought(bit of a waste though).
dettol should be ok, just keep it clean and covered for now.

vodka might be better!

cover with a sanitary pad., sticky side up and secure with a towel or muslin cut into strips

if you call teh vet they might have emergency number

Hi Lulumama. If you are registered with a veterinary practice they are obliged to provide a 24hour emergency service, so give them a ring. In the meantime, you should clean it with salty water (about a teaspoon to a pint) and leave it open. Don't apply anything else to it. But your dog will need antibiotics.

Thanks Lulu and Solo, I think I need the alcohol more

We've put the dettol on and she didn't flinch but she won't let us cover it. Will just do it again this evening and take her to the vet first thing in the morning.

Hi ED, I had posted my last before I saw yours. Thanks for advice. I've rang the only number I have for the vet and no answer or even a message giving an emergency number Will deal with that in the morning too!

I know your not supposed to cover a dogbite on a human because of bacteria so was thinking the same about my dog but even if I wanted to cover it, she won't let me.

Hopefully AB's in the morning will be ok.

Call your vet. You really should see someone. Every vet is obliged to have some sort of 24hr arrangement for cover even if that is with another practice.

Please do NOT put dettol on again. It is not a sensible thing to be using. Best to use lightly salted water to clean it so that it is not toxic. 1 tsp of salt to 1pt of water.

Hi BG, sorry I'm only getting back to this now. Thank you for the advice, you were right. I eventually got talking to the vet who said dettol was useless and we should use salt and water.

It didn't work though as the infection had already set in and we've been looking after a very poorly dog since. She has cellulitis, big swollen lump on her head and is on AB's, poor baby.

She looks so pitiful but the vet said she'll be fine in a couple of days TG.

Aw poor thing. Sorry she is poorly but glad she is getting her abs now and will be doing better soon.