Surgical treatment of a deep knife-cut injury in the neck of an adult Nigerian indigenous bitch

Abstract

Trauma, in all its categories, is the main cause of external injury in domestic animals generally and dogs in particular. Traumatic injuries may be due to gunshot, kicks, falls from heights, knife cut and bites of other animals. Such wounds may be treated conventionally, medically and or by surgery. The objective of this clinical case study was to present a successful treatment of a deep knife-cut in an adult female Nigerian Indigenous Dog. The patient was examined generally and stabilized with fluid administration. Surgical intervention was given by stitching the gaping wound using various suture patterns and materials according to standard technique. Drug treatment comprised injection of antibacterial, anti-tetanus, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic agents. The surgical wound was cleaned with an antiseptic solution and irrigated with topical antibacterial spray. The wound was dressed on alternate days resulting in a successful treatment. The patient recovered and resumed normal life a few weeks following the surgical treatment. Clinically, the present article is relevant in small animal practice as it has demonstrated the effectiveness of surgery in treatment of deep cutlass-cut in the cervical region of the dog.