Wound Care For a Dog: Everything You Need To Know

As a dog parent, you know that accidents and injuries can happen to your pup. While it may be scary to see your pet injured, most of the time these incidents can be resolved without seeking veterinary care.

If your pet has suffered a scratch or cut at home, it’s important to know how you can treat these symptoms and give them the proper care.

In this article, we’re going to discuss wound care for your dog - steps you can take to care for the wound by yourself and when you should bring them to the vet.

Let’s dig in!

Wounds That Require Veterinary Care

If your dog suffers a serious injury, don’t hesitate to bring them to the veterinarian.

Here are some examples of wounds that require immediate veterinary care:

• Wounds caused by a car accident
• Dog bites or bites from other animals
• Injuries that resulted in skin that is oozing or torn from the flesh
• Eye injuries, head injuries
• Accidents that cause your dog to have trouble breathing
• Wounds that occur due to sharp objects

These are just a few examples of incidents that may occur, but you will need to practice your best judgement and take your dog to the vet if you believe their injury is severe. It’s always best to be safe and seek professional care.

Wound Care For Your Dog At Home

In the situation where your dog has suffered an injury, but you believe that it is minor - you can treat them at home. Wound care for your pet can be done with the help of a pet first aid kit.

Here are a few essentials for a first aid kit for your dog:

• Sterile bandages
• Soap
• Muzzle
• Pet antiseptic solution

If you want to ensure that you have everything to take care of your dog’s injury, you can purchase a first aid kit.

How To Care For Your Dog’s Wound

Once you have your first aid kit handy, you can start to take care of your dog’s wound. It’s important that you act swiftly and clean the wound to avoid any additional issues.

Restrain Your Dog

The first step to caring for your dog’s injury is to restrain them while you care for the wound. You can do this by having someone hold them down or you can use a muzzle if necessary. A muzzle will not hurt your dog, but instead help them to relax and avoid touching the area with their teeth.

Clean The Wound

The next step is to clean the wound. This means searching for anything that may be poking out such as debris or something sharp, you can gently remove this with tweezers.

Once the wound is free of any debris, you can use a cleaning solution to sterilize the wound. Use warm water to gently clean the area. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol on your dog’s wound as it could cause irritation, pain and delay the healing process.

Cover The Wound

The final step in caring for your dog’s wound is to cover it. You can apply a topical antibiotic cream to help with potential infections. And, you’ll want to use a clean, sterile bandage to cover or wrap the area.

Many veterinarians advise against using any corticosteroids on the wound.

Once the wound is properly covered, you’ll want to ensure that your dog is not liking or picking at the bandage. In some cases, you may need to place an e-collar around their neck to keep them from irritating the injury.

Wound Care For Your Dog Is Important

As your dog’s wound heals, you’ll want to monitor it for any potential infections or growing issues. If your dog’s wound worsens, bring them to the veterinarian immediately. With quick application and care, your dog’s wound will heal over time and they’ll quickly rebound to a healthy state.

As a pet parent, your biggest priority is to ensure that your dog is healthy, safe and happy, therefore noticing wounds and addressing them quickly is incredibly important.

Remember the self care steps to take care of your dog’s wound at home and to bring them to the vet for immediate care if their injury is severe.