Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 8/26/2010

Question
My dog has a through and through puncture wound in his chest. Don't have the money to go the vet or hospital. I clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, which I found out was a no no. Let it dry and applied maximum strength neosporin and oral antibiotics (cephalexin/250mg). A little drainage but no discoloration. Do I continue this treatment or is there better way to prevent infection and generate proper healing?

Answer
If the wound went through the chest, there may be a collapsed lung on that side.  You would not know that unless the dog needed to run and then he could not catch his breath.  An X-ray would show that very clearly.  If you want something to clean the wound with, go to the pharmacy and get 1% povidone iodine solution.  It may be available for women as a douche.  Make it like strong iced tea with warm water and flush the wound with that.