Lacerations and Abrasions

Wounds can be caused by many things such as scrapes, cuts and bites from other animals, or a pad laceration from stepping on glass or a sharp rock. Wounds can vary in severity from small injuries that require clipping and cleaning of the area to severe wounds requiring general anesthesia and sutures (stitches) or staples to repair. An open wound of any size needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Many wounds require treatment with antibiotics to prevent infection.

When to visit VCA Urgent Care

• Your pet has an open wound (of any size)
• Your pet has a bite wound without other evidence of major trauma
• Your pet has a wound that is draining (ex. an abscess in a cat)
• Your pet has wounds that are bleeding (ex. a cut paw)

    
When to seek emergency care

We recommend visiting an emergency hospital if your pet is/has any of the following:

• Severely injured or unable to stand or walk
• Extremely large wounds with a large flap of skin or severe contamination with dirt/fur
• Deep wounds which appear to have entered a body cavity
• Wounds associated with severe trauma, such as having been hit by a car or picked up and shaken by a larger animal

Find a VCA Emergency Hospital