Feb 09 2009
Is My Pet’s Wound Infected?
Does My Dog or Cat Have an Infected Wound?
“What are the symptoms of an infection in a pet’s wound?”
“My dog’s wound smells bad and has discharge. Is it infected?”
“Why is my cat’s wound red and swollen? Does this mean the wound is infected?”
At some point, your cat, dog or other pet will suffer a wound from a fall, bump, or even from a dog fight or cat fight.
So while cleaning a pet’s wound properly is vital to promote healing, infections do still occur from time to time. Do you know the symptoms of infection in a cat’s or dog’s wound?
Signs and Symptoms of an Infected Wound in a Dog or Cat
There are several symptoms that you may see if your pet’s wound, cut or even an incision gets infected. Signs of infection include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Discharge (often thick, yellow or green in color)
- Odor
- Pain
Is Your Pet’s Wound Healing?
It’s important to note that some redness, swelling, discharge and pain is normal, but these symptoms will usually reach their worst point within 24 hours of the pet’s injury. After that point, the injury should be healing and improving; if the redness, swelling, discharge and pain associated with the pet’s injury seem to get worse, this is a sign of infection.
In addition, a wound should never have an odor. If the wound smells bad, this is a sure sign of infection.
Tip: Photograph the Wound Daily to Monitor Healing
Photographing a cat’s or dog’s wound with a digital camera is a great way to monitor healing.
It can be difficult to monitor healing by relying on memory when changes occur slowly. Comparing photographs gives you a way to monitor the progression of healing without having to rely on potentially flawed memories.
Photographs of a pet’s wound or injury can also be helpful to show a veterinarian if follow up care is required due to an infected wound or other injury.
Related Reading for Pet Owners
For more information on how to clean a pet’s cut or surgical incision, read this related blog entry titled How Do I Clean My Pet’s Wound?
Also read How Do I Clean a Dog Bite Wound? and Why Do Dog Bite Wounds Get Infected? for more information on how to treat these difficult-to-heal injuries in your pet.
