5 Dog Wound Care Tips Every Pet Parent Needs to Know

Most dog wounds require veterinary care and attention, but it’s still important to know how to treat your furry companion’s wounds and injuries and when to bring them to your vet. Wounds can cause damage to the underlying tissues and skin. It can be a closed wound like a bruise or contusion or an open wound like a cut. However, wounds require attention, no matter how serious or minor. Now, let’s discuss how you can treat your dog’s wounds at home.

How to Treat Dog Wounds at Home

Seeing your dog wounded or injured can be a frightening thing. But with a bit of rest and the proper care, you and your furry buddy will be alright and should be doing all your favorite activities together in no time. We’ve listed five effective pointers below for treating your dog’s wounds.

1. Muzzle them

Wounded dogs that are anxious and scared may aggressively bite you and act when you’re trying to help, so it’s necessary to muzzle your furry companion before administering treatment. Putting a muzzle on your four-legged friend before an injury occurs is good practice. This helps your dog get used to how the muzzle feels and can reduce the distress your pet is experiencing.

2. Remove foreign objects in their wound

Inspect your pet’s wound and ensure no debris or elements are lodged in it. This is much needed, especially if your dog’s wound is underneath their paw, as they might have stepped on sharp objects. If using tweezers can help remove the item, do it gently. However, leave it alone if it is deeply lodged, and call a veterinarian immediately. If possible, it’s much better to take your dog to an emergency vet for immediate treatment.

3. Never allow them to chew or lick their open wound

If the wound is big and quite severe, a protective collar or Elizabeth cones in dogs are required to keep them from severely injuring the site. But depending on the location and severity of the wound, you may cover the wound with a stockinette, t-shirt, bandage, or a dog coat.

4. Clean their wound

If your dog has wounds in its paw, swish its injured foot in a clean bucket or bowl of warm water to rinse the debris and dirt. If the wounds are elsewhere in their body, you may place your pet in a shower, bath, or sink while gently running clear water over the wound. When doing this, you may also try adding small amounts of mild hand soap or baby shampoo to the water.

However, avoid applying hydrogen peroxide or harsh cleaners, acidic cleaning products, or rubbing alcohol to your dog’s skin to prevent discomfort and pain. Doing this may also worsen their wound and slow down their healing process.

5. Stop the bleeding

Use a cloth or towel to apply gentle pressure if your dog doesn’t have objects or elements stuck in its wound. Minor wounds generally stop bleeding when doing this for a few minutes, but larger wounds will obviously take longer. Contact a local emergency animal hospital or vet immediately if the bleeding doesn’t stop within ten minutes of applying pressure.

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