Authoritative pet health information: Webvet

Cuts (lacerations) and scrapes (abrasions) in the skin are common in dogs and cats. Most are minor injuries that heal quickly with minimal treatment, but some are more serious injuries that may require surgery.

Lacerations are cuts in the skin caused by sharp objects, such as broken glass, blades, jagged metal edges, or claws. Depending on the nature of the sharp object that cuts the skin, the resulting wound can have edges that are clean and well-defined, or jagged and dirty. Foreign materials such as fur, dirt, or fabric can be driven into the wound, increasing the possibility of secondary infection and delayed healing.

An abrasion is a scrape in the skin caused by abrasive trauma such as intense scratching, sliding against a rough surface, or being dragged by a car or leash. Mild abrasion results in only superficial oozing, skin crusting, and redness, while severe abrasion can result in loss of the full thickness of the skin and serious damage to underlying tissues. Foreign materials such as fur, dirt, or gravel can be scraped into the wound, again increasing the possibility of inflammation and secondary infection.

Treatment usually begins with cleaning the wound to remove dirt, debris, crusts, and oozing material. The fur around the edges of the injured area will need to be clipped, followed by cleaning of the entire area with an antibacterial cleanser. In some cases, sedative medications or general anesthesia will need to be administered to be able to clean the area thoroughly.

Small or superficial lacerations can sometimes be allowed to heal on their own, but most require surgery to suture the cut edges together. Older wounds or those with jagged edges may first need to be "cleaned up" by cutting away dead or tattered skin, leaving fresh edges that heal more quickly. Sutured lacerations tend to heal quicker than lacerations that are left to heal on their own. However, severely traumatized or dirty wounds may need to be left open, or your veterinarian may need to place a "drain" under the skin to provide a pathway for infected seepage material to leave the body.

Severe abrasions heal slowly by a process known as granulation, during which the damaged skin is gradually replaced by new skin and scar tissue. This sensitive tissue needs to be protected during healing, which often requires bandaging.

Bandages can be treated with a material that tastes bad (eg, bitter apple) to discourage your pet from licking or chewing the area. Pets that lick or chew persistently can be fitted with a neck cone (eg, an Elizabethan collar) to physically limit access to the bandaged area. To prevent infection, antibiotic creams or ointments can be applied directly to the injured area. Oral antibiotics may also be needed, especially when wounds have been contaminated with foreign material.

Q&A
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LACERATION AND AN ABRASION?
A laceration is a cut in the skin caused by sharp objects, whereas an abrasion is a scrape in the skin caused by abrasive trauma.

HOW ARE THESE INJURIES TREATED?
Treatment begins with cleaning the area to remove dirt, hair, and debris. Lacerations often require surgery to close the cut with sutures. Moderate to severe abrasions are usually bandaged to protect them as they heal.

HOW CAN I KEEP MY PET FROM LICKING AT THE HEALING WOUND?
Bandages can be treated with a material that tastes bad (eg, bitter apple) to discourage your pet from licking or chewing the area. Pets that lick or chew persistently can be fitted with a neck cone (eg, an Elizabethan collar) to physically limit access to the bandaged area.

Elisa Baxt recalls one of her first dog dates with her boyfriend: It was on a beautiful spring day, and she and Scott were having lunch at an outdoor cafe, eating salads and sipping lemonade. Next to them was Elisa's three-and-a-half-year-old chow-lab mix Cody, chewing on a special order carrot (raw and unpeeled).

"It was a great day," Elisa said, "and Cody was a great icebreaker. Of course, now, she's like our child. And we take her everywhere."

The fact is bringing your dog with you on a date can not only lend to fun and adventure, but can also let you know if you share a love of dogs early on, experts say. It can also enhance romance. Just ask Lisa Saliture, who took her German shorthaired pointer out with a date and his dog early in their relationship.

"We walked on the beach and in the wooded areas," she writes on associatedcontent.com, "and it gave me an instant feeling of romance and closeness with him. The dogs were running and playing, so they inspired us to let loose too."

Whether it's on concrete, grass, or sand, there are plenty of places to go with your dog and potential mate. Here are our top five picks:

#1: The park
According to a survey of 1,000-plus Match.com members, 70 percent say a walk in the park is one of their top great places for a first date.

"On my first date with Joel, we walked his dog Casey in the park," said Felicia Roff in the site's Happen Magazine. "It was a beautiful day. And Casey was insanely adorable."

Beyond walking, a trip to the park offers a variety of activities that are suitable for both people and canines. That includes hiking, biking, picnicking, tossing a Frisbee, and even flying a kite.

There's also the option of going to the "bark" - an enclosed park where dogs are free to run and play off leash. It's a good place to let your dogs get to know one another while you and your date do the same.

#2: An eating establishment
"We love to take Cody with us when we go to Starbucks," Elisa said, adding that it's something they've been doing since very early in their courtship.

Apparently, they're not alone. According to the Match.com survey, 81 percent of members consider coffee houses a great first-date place. And 62 percent love to go out for brunch.

Coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes are not just for humans anymore - especially as more places embrace the chance to host people and their canine companions. At the Millennium Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, Minn., for example, dog lovers and their four-legged friends can mingle with the like at "yappy hour."

#3: A sporting event
Another great date place is a sporting event. And while you can't bring dogs to, say, the Superbowl or professional stadiums, you can bring them to your prospect's softball game or volleyball match.

There's also activities like fly ball - a relay race for dogs - and agility training - in which dogs run through an obstacle course - that allow you and your partner to sit on the sidelines and watch proudly while your dog takes center stage. These are great ways to engage someone new not only in activity, but also in your dog-loving lifestyle.

#4: The flea market
Weaving up and down the booths at an outdoor market can be a fun way to share the day with your date and dog, but only if the flea market allows for animals. An alternative is to window shop. Depending on where you go and how well your dog is trained, some stores will even let you bring your pet in with you.

#5: The beach
Finally, it's no secret that, like people, many dogs love the beach. It's a great place for all to enjoy the sand, sun, and surf (and to check out your date in beach clothes). But be forewarned, not all beaches allow dogs. Those that do often require you to abide by certain rules and times. Less stringent are doggie beaches, which allow dogs and their owners to romp in specially designated sections of a lake, ocean, or river.

Finally, most experts will tell you that where you go with your dog and your date is incidental to what you do when you get there. "Scott and I like to take Cody on a hike in the hills of a local park," Elisa said. "When we get to the top, we stop to make out while Cody enjoys the nature. It's very romantic. Still."

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