Dog Vs. Dog -- Canine Bite Wounds

Even play time can get out of hand. Remember, play time should
be bouncy and loose. If any of the dogs playing becomes
stiff/rigid, you should intervene before a fight begins.

As an emergency veterinarian I see bite wounds in dogs almost on a daily basis. The severity of these wounds can vary from just small lacerations to serious life threatening injuries. Frequently they involve a larger dog biting a smaller dog and/or multiple dogs attacking another dog. The scenarios where bite wounds occur are a myriad, but frequently occur at dog parks or other areas where people bring their pets to walk or run off leash. They can occur while out walking your dog on the street or even in your own yard. They can also occur among your own dogs. What is important is to know what to do in case your pet is bitten by another dog. There are many factors that affect what the best course of action is, but having your pet examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible after the bite is probably the most important.

If dogs are currently fighting do not try and grab or otherwise touch the fighting dogs as this can escalate things and you may be bitten as well. You can try to distract them with a loud noise such as banging pots or garbage can lids together, spraying with a hose, or try to get in between them by opening a large umbrella or folding chair. Once the fight is over, assess the dog(s) and begin first aid.

If the dog is small, it may be best to wrap them up in a towel or use a muzzle to safely restrain them as to prevent them from biting you; when an animal is in pain, they are more likely to bite in response to being touched. If you do not have a muzzle, one may be fastened with some gauze--a leash could work for a larger dog. If there are any bleeding wounds, direct pressure on the wound is the best to stop the bleeding. Avoid the urge to put anything on or in the wound as most over the counter topical medications such as hydrogen peroxide are not meant to go in open wounds and can cause more harm than good.

Remember, what is on the surface is not the entire
injury. Most often, bite wounds are worse than they
appear from the bacteria and crushing force of the bite.

As stated earlier, the best thing to do is to get your dog to your regular veterinarian or veterinary emergency facility as soon as possible. After your dog has been examined, in many cases, wound exploration under sedation or general anesthesia will be recommended by your veterinarian. I am often asked why we are unable to just clean the wound and put some sutures in it. The answer is that what you see on the surface is just the "tip of the iceberg". Bite wounds, by nature, cause crushing injury to the skin and tissue below. They carry hair, debris, skin bacteria, and bacteria from the biting dog's mouth--embedding them into the tissue. These wounds need to be surgically explored to remove damaged and contaminated tissue and flushed with sterile saline to remove bacteria and debris. Many of these bites will cause large pockets under the skin and may need to have drains placed to prevent fluid accumulation after the wound is closed. Antibiotics and pain medications will likely be prescribed and follow up exams will be rquired to remove drains, monitor healing and remove sutures or staples. Some wounds may dehisce (break down) because some crushing injuries damage the blood supply to the skin and this may not be apparent at the time of the initial injury. Repeated surgery and/or open wound management and skin grafts may be required for more severe wounds.

In summary, bite wounds in dogs are one of the more common injuries seen in veterinary practice. They can happen in almost any scenario imagined, have a wide range of severity and often need to be surgically explored to asses/treat the damaged tissue under the skin. Examination by a veterinarian is recommended in almost every case and frequent follow up to monitor healing.

Written by Joseph Wilder, DVM, DABVP

Linear Foreign Body

Linear foreign body is the term we use to refer to any string-like material that is ingested and ends up wrapped or anchored around an attachment point--most commonly the base of the tongue or the pylorus (where the stomach empties into the intestines). 

This cat was diagnosed with a linear foreign body on radiographs (AKA X-Rays). The
gold string is anchored around the tongue. In this picture, the cat has been anesthetized to
perform abdominal surgery to remove the string. Many times this is a difficult region to
examine in an awake cat.

After the string has been anchored, it can move through the digestive tract and into the intestines. This can become problematic as the intestines will start to bunch along the string, developing a "plicated," or scrunchy-like, appearance. The string can lead to obstruction and even begin to cut through the layers of intestine. This has the potential to perforate the gastro-intestinal tract. A septic peritonitis is a life threatening emergency. For this reason, a linear foreign body is a surgical emergency.

Here are the intestines of the cat with the gold string
anchored around the base of the tongue [from above].
Because the string is caught around the base of the tongue,
the intestines begin to "plicate" or pleat as they attempt
to move the string along their length. 

For comparison, this is the appearance of normal intestine as seen at surgery.

What Should You Look For if You Suspect Your Cat Ingested String?
 Signs of a linear foreign body may include vomiting and/or diarrhea, decreased appetite, lethargy, hiding, and abdominal discomfort. If you suspect that your cat may have eaten any string-like material or is showing these signs, you should promptly seek veterinary care. Do NOT attempt to pull or cut the string if you see it sticking out of your cat's mouth or rear end. Instead, take your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible. For times when your veterinarian is not available--such as nights, weekends, and holidays--we recommend you seek care from an animal emergency hospital.*

What to Expect When You go to Your Veterinarian?
To make the diagnosis of linear foreign body, your veterinarian will start with abdominal radiographs [X-Rays]. This is sometimes a difficult diagnosis to confirm, so they may recommend submitting them to a boarded veterinary radiologist for consult.** In some cases, even a radiologist may need additional information to make the diagnosis. In those situations, they will recommend an additional diagnostic to confirm the diagnosis--an abdominal  ultrasound exam. 

This is an abdominal radiograph [AKA X-Ray] of the cat with the linear
foreign body. The small intestines (seen in the lower mid abdomen)
are bunched together and takeon a scrunched appearance.

For comparison, this is a normal feline abdominal radiograph.
Notice the difference in the distribution of the small intestinal segments
in this healthy cat.

What Can You do to Avoid a Linear Foreign Body for Your Cat?
Keep in mind that you can prevent linear foreign bodies in your pets by ensuring that they do not have access to strings. If you want your cat to play with cat toys, make sure they are under direct supervision and you pick toys that are safe from lose strings or small objects.

Prepared by:
Jennfier L. Bouma, VMD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology
& Cecilia Murch, DVM, Master of Public Health

Take a look at this helpful guide from the ASPCA about safety during kitty play time!

*For Emergencies in the Greater Rochester, NY Area, contact Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Services for more information.

**To learn more about board-certified radiologists, visit the American College of Veterinary Radiology website.