Molly W. from Dallas asks:
"I have a 2 1/2 year old Lab mix that got two deep cuts on the inside of his leg from a fence at the dog park. I freaked out of course and was going to take him to the vet, but fellow dog owners told me not to worry about it. I cleaned it with soap and water and put some Neosporin on it. He limped for a while, but he is fine today. Is this something I should've taken him in for the vet to see? Do we need to worry about tetanus in dogs? Thanks so much!"

Dr. Manley's Reply:
"Hi Molly,

Dogs and cats can be infected by tetanus; however, the disease is rare in dogs and very rare in cats. The tetanus is caused by a bacteria called Clostridium tetani. This organism produces a toxin that binds to nerves, causing muscle contractions. Resistance to the toxin varies from species to species. Once the toxin has bound to the nerve, very little can be done to reverse its affect. Penicillin is the antibiotic of choice to prevent infection of Clostridium tetani.

Having said that, there are a lot of other bacteria that can enter the body through a laceration that are more likely than tetanus to cause harm. It is best to clip the hairs away from the laceration (hair is always contaminated and will promote infection), clean the wound with mild soap and water, and see your veterinarian as soon as you can. It’s only an emergency if you suspect significant blood loss.

Thanks for the question....Dr. Manley"

Dr. Cleveland Manley is one of the wonderful veterinarians at VCA Pet Doctor in Richardson, TX. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University - College of Veterinary Medicine.