Wound and laceration care
BayVETS is an emergency vet in Collingwood for evenings, weekends and holidays. Call us at 289-985-0855 during our hours. Outside our hours, call the 24/7 teletriage line at 647-695-5411 or go to the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital.
We treat cuts, lacerations and bite wounds, and porcupine encounters.
Bite wounds
Animal bites are common, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Cat bites are often small punctures that easily become infected. Dog bites range from punctures to deep gashes.
Bite wounds can hide serious injuries, such as broken ribs or damaged organs, even when the marks on the surface look minor. Merck says that a vet should examine any bite.
Cuts and lacerations
Merck explains that simple lacerations without deep tissue damage are usually closed completely, unless they are contaminated or infected. Deep tissue damage must be evaluated and treated before the wound is closed.
How the vet treats a wound
In general, wound care follows these steps, as Merck describes them:
If the pet had trauma or is in shock, the vet stabilizes the pet first.
The vet cleans the wound and flushes it to lower the chance of infection.
The vet may remove damaged tissue.
The vet decides whether to close the wound with sutures, staples or surgical glue, or to leave it open to heal.
Some wounds are closed later, after treatment, when the risk of infection is lower. Deep wounds can need surgery. The vet also plans pain management for your pet.
Porcupine quills
Porcupine quills have barbs and are painful to remove. Merck's page on minor injuries advises owners not to try to remove them, because a veterinarian must remove them after sedating the pet to avoid more injury and bleeding.
Bandages and home care
If your pet goes home with a bandage, make sure that you understand how to look after it before you leave. Watch the wound or stitches for redness, swelling or discharge, and call us or your family vet if you have a concern.
Questions
Does a small bite need a vet?
Merck says that any bite should be examined by a vet, because bite wounds can hide serious injuries.
Should I pull out porcupine quills myself?
No. A vet should remove them. Merck says that the vet sedates the pet first to avoid more injury and bleeding.
Will the wound be stitched tonight?
It depends on the wound. Some wounds are closed right away, and others are left open first to lower the risk of infection.
Call us
Call us at 289-985-0855 during our hours, or walk in. We are open Monday to Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends and statutory holidays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Outside our hours, call the 24/7 teletriage line at 647-695-5411 or go to the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital.