Benny's Dog Attack Wound

Benny, a 13 1⁄2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was rushed to Casey and Cranbourne Veterinary Hospital after being attacked by a much larger dog during a morning walk. The incident happened suddenly and violently, with Benny sustaining multiple puncture wounds and significant crushing trauma to his abdomen before help arrived.

For his owners, the fear wasn’t just about the injuries they could see. Benny already lived with significant heart disease, making any form of anaesthesia a serious risk. The challenge for our team was clear: manage a severe traumatic injury while keeping Benny safe, comfortable, and stable.

Benny was examined immediately on arrival. Although shaken and sore, he was still able to walk, and his vital signs were stable. Careful examination revealed multiple puncture wounds on the left side of his abdomen, along with extensive bruising beneath the skin, a common but serious feature of dog attack injuries.

Because bite wounds often cause more damage below the surface than is visible externally, Benny underwent diagnostic imaging. X-rays confirmed there was no penetration into the chest or abdominal cavity and no fractures. However, they did reveal an unrelated finding: multiple bladder stones, which would need to be addressed later once Benny had recovered from the attack.

Dog attack wounds are rarely simple punctures. The force of shaking and crushing causes underlying tissue damage that often worsens over the first one to three weeks before healing can begin. This can be confronting for owners, so clear communication and expectation-setting are critical.

Benny’s wounds were carefully cleaned, flushed, and monitored over the following days. As expected, some tissue breakdown occurred as damaged skin and muscle declared itself. Throughout this phase, the focus was on pain control, infection prevention, and supporting Benny while allowing the wounds to stabilise naturally.

Once a healthy wound bed had formed, around three weeks after the attack, Benny began laser therapy under the care of Dr Elizabeth Doran. Laser therapy offered a powerful advantage in his case: it could accelerate healing without surgery or general anaesthesia.

Laser treatments were performed twice weekly over four sessions. Each treatment was pain-free, quick, and well-tolerated. Benny was so relaxed that no restraint or sedation was needed. The laser was applied to stimulate tissue repair, improve blood flow, and encourage new skin growth.

With each session, the improvement was visible. Healthy new tissue formed along the wound edges, infection risk was reduced, and the skin began closing far more rapidly than expected for an injury of this size.

Benny’s wounds healed completely without the need for surgical reconstruction, an especially important outcome given his cardiac risk. Once his skin had healed, the team could safely shift focus to managing his other ongoing health needs, including bladder stones, heart disease, and allergic skin conditions.

His owners were relieved to see him comfortable again, without the stress and risk that surgery might have brought.
Benny’s owner shared:

“The laser treatment has been amazing. Benny’s recovery from this horrendous incident has been incredible. We are so grateful to Dr Elizabeth and the whole team — they always have his best interests at heart.”

Benny’s case reinforced the role of laser therapy as a gold-standard option for managing complex wounds, particularly in older dogs or patients who are poor candidates for anaesthesia. It also highlights the importance of treating the whole patient, not just the injury in front of us, and adapting care plans to suit individual risks and needs.

Dog attacks can happen unexpectedly, and even when wounds appear small, the damage beneath the surface can be significant. Prompt veterinary assessment is always essential.

Complex injuries need thoughtful care. If your pet ever needs advanced wound management or rehabilitation support, our team is here to help.