How To Properly Care For Your Dog's Wounds?

Dogs get injured due to a sporty and restless nature. These injuries could vary. No one likes their dog to be injured and covered in wounds. However, as accidents happen, when they do, it is important to provide them with first aid right away.

This includes minor cuts and scrapes to more serious wounds requiring professional care. Caring for your dog's wounds will help them heal quickly and prevent infection. It's also important to know when to seek professional vet help. 

Professional care is necessary because the injuries could range from minor cuts and scrapes to more serious wounds. Instant and proper wound care can help them to help quickly without getting any infection. Therefore, while aiding them at home, seeking professional help is also evident. 

This article guides you in caring for your dog's wounds at home and when to take them to the vet. 

Taking Care Of Your Dog's Wounds

An instant response to dogs' wounds can help them with a better and quick response. If they keep roaming around with the wound open, they are likely to get an infection in the wound area. 

Most minor wounds can easily be treated at home. However, some other injuries can lead to severe infections. 

Therefore, it is better to choose the side of caution while deciding whether to take the dog to the vet. Taking the dog to the vet immediately can save him from many miseries. 

In the following sections, you will learn everything there is to know about wound care for the health and well-being of our canine companions. 

Veterinary Care for Wounds

Wounds must be treated immediately by veterinarians if they are too severe for the pet owner to handle. 

Their services could be acquired for the following reasons. 

• An animal bite calls for immediate attention from a veterinarian. This could be either from another dog or animal. These often appear small but could be infectious. 
• A wound with the skin ripped from the flesh beneath
• Wound with a sizeable foreign object, such as a piece of glass embedded.
• Wounds from a car or other accident
• Injuries around the eyes, head, chest, and abdomen areas.
• Injuries from unknown sources should be treated as the worst-case scenario. A rusted nail may also lead to a minor wound.
• Cuts that are more than an inch long and have jagged edges
• Injuries and wounds that cause breathing difficulties.

Dog Wound Care at Home

Many pet wounds, including cuts and scraps, are treated the same way as humans. Pet owners usually treat these wounds at home. 

Make sure to follow these steps at home 

• Clean the wound 
• Sterilize the wound area
• Apply the bandage

While you do this, use soothing and gentle products on your dog to relieve his pain.

Minor pet injuries can easily be treated at home. Your first aid kit should have the relevant treatment instruments if your dog gets hurt. 

You might need the following. 

• Pet antiseptic solution
• Antimicrobial ointment for dogs
• Sterile bandages
• Self-adhesive bandages
• Spray bottle

You should always ensure you have a proper first aid kit ready for your dog with the above-mentioned products.

Guide to Wound Bandage

An injury calls for professional help. However, if it does not look bad or is something you can handle, you can apply a bandage at home.

To bandage your pets, follow these steps:

Use a Muzzle on Your Dog

Putting a muzzle is advised before helping the dog with its wound. An injured dog could be anxious or scared and can harm you while you are trying to help. So, it is better to start with putting a muzzle before providing him first aid. This can make him feel comfortable with the process and muzzle as well. This familiarization with the muzzle will help to avoid aggravating your dog's distress because they will be used to it.

Examine the Wound for Foreign Objects

Check out for any foreign object lodged in the wound or debris. It is especially important to check for dog paw wound care as that part of the body is likely to get wounds from foreign objects. If the object is removable with a tweezer, remove it gently. 

However, if the object is deep in the wound, it is better to leave it alone, as pushing it can harm the pet. During such cases, be sure to call the pet and take the pet to the emergency right away. 

Clean The Wound

You can rinse the dirt and debris on your pooch's paw by swishing in a clean container or warm water. If there are more marks or wounds on the dog’s body, you can gently put the dog in the sink, bath, or tub and run over the clean water. It is better not to apply harsh cleaners such as hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or other caustic cleaning products on your dog’s skin. Using these chemicals can be painful for the dog’s wound and skin. Moreover, it also makes the wound take longer to heal.

Stop The Bleeding

Using a clean towel to apply pressure can be beneficial if nothing is stuck in the wound. This helps minor cuts stop bleeding right away within minutes. However, significant cuts tend to take longer. The bleeding should ideally stop within ten minutes of applying a bandage. If the bleeding does not stop, it is high time to call your vet or take the dog to the hospital immediately.

Dress Your Dog's Wound

Dressing the dog’s wound is crucial. You can apply an antibacterial ointment and cover it with some sterile gauze or bandage. It is recommended not to use products that contain hydrocortisone or other corticosteroids. A self-adhesive elastic bandage can also help keep gauze in place while tressing dog wounds.

Stop Your Dog From Licking Injury

Licking the wound may cause it to heal more slowly. Ensure you have an e-collar and use it on your dog if you catch your dog licking the wound.

Dog Open Wound Care

Veterinarians will close and suture the injury whenever possible to expedite healing. Sometimes, the location or extent of skin loss prevents surgical closure or bandaging. For example, wounds on the face or the upper leg are left open.

Additionally, many wounds need to be left open for topical treatment and drainage in case they catch contamination or infection.

Such wounds often become challenging to close surgically, and the vet, in such cases, has to apply a protective bandage.

The following are some general care guidelines for such wounds:

Clear the Surroundings

To remove any sticky or crusty residue, gently clean the wound and the surrounding region. This will promote the growth of new, healthy tissue and keep the wound's edges clean. It further minimizes the chance of re-infection.

Administer Medications on Time

Give all prescriptions as prescribed by a vet professional. For instance, your veterinarian may recommend antibiotic creams or medications for your dog to apply to the wound. Unless your veterinarian gives you special instructions, don't stop taking these drugs. 

Prevent Dog Licking

Do not let your dog lick or chew on an open wound. You might need to use an e-collar or a cone of shame to prevent injury to the area during the healing process. Other options include bandaging, a stockinette, a dog coat, or a t-shirt, depending on the wound site.

Prevent Premature Wound Healing

You should take measures to stop the skin over the wound from healing too quickly. This is particularly crucial for surgically lanced and drained abscesses. When cleansing the wound, gently massage the surrounding skin to encourage drainage and open it up. You may observe some bleeding or discharge after doing this. 

Take note of whether the discharge appears infected, like if it is thick and colored. You should either remove or let the discharge drain away. If the discharge remains bloody, green, or yellow for several days, contact your veterinarian for advice.

Maintaining The Wound

Proper wound care is important for so many more reasons. The first thing to do after a crash is to try initial treatment and bandaging, but it's crucial to keep a record of the wounds to prevent diseases from setting in. Also, keep checking that every wound is healing perfectly. Clean the wound with tap water or a pet-safe antiseptic solution twice daily. 

Instead, significant warning signs of infection or other problems in the wound would demand prompt consultation with your veterinarian. The infected area begins to show some changes that include increased redness, swelling, discharge, and pain from the wound area, as well as a foul odor emanating from the wound. Effective injury management is crucial in its healing rather than further worsening.

Why is Proper Wound Care so Critical? 

The owner should opt for proper wound care to ensure a happy, healthy dog. 

Here are some reasons why proper wound care is crucial: 

• It helps clean wounds to remove any debris or dirt that might cause infection. 
• It prevents other complications from developing. 
• This helps maintain a wound in a moist state, promoting healing. 
• Wound care also serves as protection for the wound from further harm.

Common Mistakes When Caring For Dog's Wounds

Avoid these common wound care mistakes to ensure proper healing at every stage. While wound care isn't exactly glamorous, it is statistically necessary, so we're here to help:

Using Chlorhexidine Soap

Chlorhexidine is an antibacterial agent commonly used as a topical antiseptic to clean wounds in dental and surgical practices. While chlorhexidine has low systemic toxicity and is generally safe in over-the-counter concentrations, it is dangerous when ingested and irritates the skin and eyes. In addition, dogs lick the soap off of them, which can have serious consequences. Besides, little evidence shows it is safe and effective at reducing bacterial growth without causing wound trauma. It can also cause tissue necrosis and bacteria to regrow.

The Best Alternative is Not Always Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is your first line of defense for cleansing wounds. Hydrogen peroxide has long been used as an antiseptic because it destroys germs by dissolving their cell walls. It, however, kills your pet's fibroblasts, which are healthy cells essential for recovery. So, while the compound aids in disinfection, it also slows your pet's natural healing process.

Here's what can help you real quick. 

• Prepare the wound.
• Apply pressure to make the bleeding stop. 
• Moreover, do try to remove any fur from your dog's injury. 
• Using sterile, pressurized "wound wash," flush the wound. 
• Disinfect the wound with a diluted iodine solution. 

Surprising Antibiotic Ointment Facts

Polysporins are very common in wound healing. However, Polysporin has many drawbacks.

Made of petroleum jelly, a crude oil waste, it harms the skin. Furthermore, resistant bacteria often proliferate due to antibiotics' overuse and prolonged usage. Petroleum jelly creates a layer on the skin's surface that may hinder wound closure and slow healing. 

Most dogs will lick anything greasy, causing more trauma to the wound and extending healing time.

Wrapping Up

Taking care of the fundamentals of dog wound care is essential to act prepared in emergencies. This wound management is vital for the well-being and cheerfulness of your dog. Knowing how to heal a coat's injury in a dog will lead to its maintenance, first aid, and treatment. This way, you can care for your dog’s wounds at home and know when to take it to the vet. 

All the above information helps with better dog care. To learn more about pet care, consult Vet and Tech resources. Our vet resources help individuals observe pet care properly, especially about the basics of surgical concentrations and other common diseases in animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would my dog's wound not heal?

There are different reasons that do not let the wound heal. The patient's general condition, underlying diseases, etiology, and poor nutrition can also be a few factors.

Could a dog wound possibly heal on its own?

Most minor cuts, such as grazes, heal quickly if kept clean and dry. Check and clean your pet's wound daily, and keep them from licking it until it is completely healed.

Do canine wounds heal faster than human' wounds?

It is often assumed that dogs would also heal faster compared to humans but that is not always the case. Time and healing pathways for wounds remain similar and comparable in terms of healing extent in both humans and canines.