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Machete accident and scar question

DragosMom

Well-Known Member
Whew guys, today was a crazy, hectic, scary emotion day. While out walking the woods with dad today Drago ran full blast into my husbands machete. Instantly my husbands arm flew up and he said it sounded as if a soft ball was being hit. Instantly realizing it was Drago that got hit he called him over in a panic to assess the damage. I woke up from a loud panic scream coming from my living room to see my husband on all fours applying pressure to Dragos face. Me being a nurse practitioner took one look and knew we had to race to the vet immediately. Drago was taken in immediately, sedated and examined. He needed surgery. The machete tore thru the side of the cheek. Luckily It Misses His Eyes Mouth And snout. The vet said he fought the anesthesia tooth and nail, which is so my boy..can't do anything without a fuss or fight. End result was a bunch of stitches, antibiotics and pain meds. My concern now is scarring. He was shaved and the wound I'd say is probably 2.5 to 3 inches long. Has anyone had experience with suture scarring? Will the hair grow back in over the scar? His cheek now looks a bit pulled and disfigured but I'm sure alot has to do with swelling. First and foremost just grateful our pup is ok..just wondering about the healing and scarring. Any advice will help. Thx guys

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Brady19

Well-Known Member
My male was bit by our female the day we brought him home and had a cut about a half inch long. He has a scar to this day, your best bet to reduce scarring is to keep it moist at all times with a good ointment. Hope he feels better.

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DragosMom

Well-Known Member
My male was bit by our female the day we brought him home and had a cut about a half inch long. He has a scar to this day, your best bet to reduce scarring is to keep it moist at all times with a good ointment. Hope he feels better.

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Thanks Brady! Hate the fact of the scar but I really appreciate the advice. Can you recommend a good ointment?

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CujoTheCorso

Well-Known Member
So sorry to hear about Drago. Our previous dog sliced is leg open pretty good. About a 4" cut. Coconut oil worked wonders to reduce the scaring and keep the cut moist. Within about 6-8 months, while it was still visible, was greatly reduced and hard to notice. I'm glad he's ok.


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Brady19

Well-Known Member
Thanks Brady! Hate the fact of the scar but I really appreciate the advice. Can you recommend a good ointment?

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I would start with neosporin but it does contain something some people react to, or any other antibacterial ointment. If your worried about scars don't allow to scab also moist wounds heal faster. Continue with vitamin e oil after closed for a few weeks. But battle scars on our dogs just add character

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Brady19

Well-Known Member
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DragosMom

Well-Known Member
I would start with neosporin but it does contain something some people react to, or any other antibacterial ointment. If your worried about scars don't allow to scab also moist wounds heal faster. Continue with vitamin e oil after closed for a few weeks. But battle scars on our dogs just add character

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Lol. Battle scars, sigh! Thx so much. We will definitely try the ointment. Such a gorgeous face to scarred. Once he settles down I will post a picture of him with the wound. Thx Brady!

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Brady19

Well-Known Member
Doc did a good job. Good thing is his coat and skin are both black. Beautiful dog

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DragosMom

Well-Known Member
Doc did a good job. Good thing is his coat and skin are both black. Beautiful dog

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Thx Brady! He's our baby! Hope it turns out well. My husband was besides himself with guilt and grief. He's our first cane corso and has been an absolute joy and the love our lives. Can't believe how much love we have for this guy!!!

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Hiraeth

Well-Known Member
I think it will scar, unfortunately, though you can keep it to a minimum by keeping the wound moist and making sure he can't rub at his sutures. Looks like some good stitching.

Titan was nipped in the face by one of my dad's dogs as a puppy, and despite a very good suture job, there's a visible scar (and white hairs that grow out of it among his black fur) to this day. Hazard of having short single coated dogs that are black is that even the tiniest injury will likely result in a visible scar.

Glad it didn't hit anything vital. I'd definitely take a scar over the loss of an eye or permanent damage to his mouth!
 

DragosMom

Well-Known Member
I think it will scar, unfortunately, though you can keep it to a minimum by keeping the wound moist and making sure he can't rub at his sutures. Looks like some good stitching.

Titan was nipped in the face by one of my dad's dogs as a puppy, and despite a very good suture job, there's a visible scar (and white hairs that grow out of it among his black fur) to this day. Hazard of having short single coated dogs that are black is that even the tiniest injury will likely result in a visible scar.

Glad it didn't hit anything vital. I'd definitely take a scar over the loss of an eye or permanent damage to his mouth!
Absolutely, we were so fortunate it missed his eye and snout area. Regardless it was a traumatic situation on both ends. My heart breaks seeing my pup in pain and crying out when I know there's nothing I can do to make things better. We will definitely keep the area moist. We are giving antibiotics and pain meds as directed and fortunately Drago is still very groggy from the anesthesia so he's not messing with the wound at the moment. As you said, better a scar then permanant damage. The cheek muscle was injured but the vet said she didn't think there would be any complications or paralysis in the muscle function. Machete definitely is being trashed in the morning. We are looking into getting Drago a puppy bubble lol..jk! I appreciate the advise as always!

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Hiraeth

Well-Known Member
Absolutely, we were so fortunate it missed his eye and snout area. Regardless it was a traumatic situation on both ends. My heart breaks seeing my pup in pain and crying out when I know there's nothing I can do to make things better. We will definitely keep the area moist. We are giving antibiotics and pain meds as directed and fortunately Drago is still very groggy from the anesthesia so he's not messing with the wound at the moment. As you said, better a scar then permanant damage. The cheek muscle was injured but the vet said she didn't think there would be any complications or paralysis in the muscle function. Machete definitely is being trashed in the morning. We are looking into getting Drago a puppy bubble lol..jk! I appreciate the advise as always!

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Instead of trashing the machete (I like to be armed when I walk my dogs), you could buy a cool back sheath for it so that it won't be a danger unless it's actively being used!

I carry mace and a firearm when I walk my dogs, but if I lived somewhere I couldn't have a firearm, I'd definitely want a big freaking knife in case I needed to defend my animals (or myself).
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Oh no! Poor Drago! I hope he heals up quick. He will be beautiful even with a scar but hopefully some of the tips will help minimize that.
 

DragosMom

Well-Known Member
Instead of trashing the machete (I like to be armed when I walk my dogs), you could buy a cool back sheath for it so that it won't be a danger unless it's actively being used!

I carry mace and a firearm when I walk my dogs, but if I lived somewhere I couldn't have a firearm, I'd definitely want a big freaking knife in case I needed to defend my animals (or myself).
Good idea! I had no clue they had back sheaths lol. Both myself and my hubby have our ccw permits so the guns are not an issue ad I definately have oc17 spray. Never once thought to carry either when tramping thru the woods. You bring up very interesting, valid points..

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Oscar'sMom

Well-Known Member
I am so sorry to hear about Drago! I'm so happy to hear he is ok! What a scary situation!! Oscar got nipped by another dog a year or so ago...he has white hairs that grew where he was bit. We always joke and say his show dog days were over then. I hope Drago heals up quickly!!
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
Denna's had a few stitches & gashes... one for her spay - and I almost wish I'd had her tattoo'd, because you can't see the scar at all, so the only 'proof' of spay is the vet record.

Another was on her inner thigh - where, best guess, is a thorny berry bush sliced her open. 2.5" long gash through all skin, but not muscle. We let it heal without stitches (vet option), and it's on a flank with lighter hair, and the scar is darker, but fading (it's been 2 years). Fur is growing over it again, too.

And third is her foot... right down the middle of the big pad, stitches after stepping on a broken beer bottle... that's completely disappeared... but, feet might be special, going through pretty severe exfoliation on a regular basis.

If I had to guess, I'd say the scarring for Drago will be minimal, given that it's stitched cleanly and on dark skin & fur.

Glad he's healing! I'm still trying to imagine "running into" a machete... but maybe it's better I don't know? :)