A small but deep puncture wound may be more problematic than a larger superficial wound or laceration. As with all wounds, the most important question is always where the wound is located and what anatomic structures are involved.

Puncture wounds tend to become infected because they penetrate into deep tight spaces that often are less able to drain. In addition, there is a greater likelihood that a foreign body (or remnants of a foreign body) remain within the deeper cavity, resulting in chronic infection. Deeper wounds have a greater likelihood of penetrating critical structures like joints and other body cavities. Depending upon what structures are penetrated, this could result in severe lameness or body-wide illness often shown as depressed attitude or loss of appetite.