How to Clean a Dog's Wound

When a dog is sleeping, it's one of the few times he's not prone to injury.

Dogs can suffer cuts, scrapes, bites and other wounds during the course of a normal day. Properly treating and cleaning a wound at home can help limit the chances of infection, while also promoting healing of the dog's injury.
Some wounds - including bite wounds and wounds greater than one-half-inch in length - require a trip to the vet for cleaning of the wound site and a prescription of antibiotics. But cleaning and caring for the wound at home will help reduce the chances of infection, even if a visit to the veterinarian is required.

Things You'll Need

• Clean running water
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Clippers or a razor
• Anti-bacterial soap
• Betadine
• Antibiotic ointment
• An Elizabethan collar (a.k.a "lampshade collar" or "e-collar")
• Camera

Instructions

1. Muzzle the pet who has suffered an injury. In the absence of a traditional muzzle, a bandanna, rag or even tape can be utilized as a makeshift muzzle. Cleaning and handling a pet's injury can be painful and even the most well-behaved, loving, docile dog can lash out aggressively when he's in pain.

2. Use a paper towel to apply firm pressure to the wound site to stem the flow of blood. It may take several minutes for the bleeding to cease.
   If the bleeding is excessive, if the bleeding is uncontrollable or if the blood is emerging in spurts, immediately transport the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment.

3. Trim or shave the fur surrounding the wound to allow for better visibility of the wound site and improved airflow. A hairless one-inch diameter should be created around the wound, and the fur should be sufficiently trimmed so that it does not directly contact the wound or the one-inch buffer zone.

4. Wash the wound using an anti-bacterial soap. Thoroughly wash in and around the wound.

5. Rinse away the soap and flush the wound with clean running water. This flushing process should be performed for two full minutes to properly rinse away soap, bacteria and debris. In the absence of direct access to running water, fill a clean container and pour the water over the wound, repeating the process for two full minutes.

6. Use a clean paper towel to dry the area surrounding the wound. From this point forward, avoid direct contact with the wound and the one-inch buffer zone surrounding the laceration, scrape, gash or bite to help ensure sterility.

7. Pour a small amount ot Betadine over the wound site. Applying generous amounts of Betadine using a sterile gauze pad will also suffice, though pouring the antiseptic fluid directly onto the wound will ensure that all the nooks and crannies are disinfected.

8. Using a clean paper towel, wipe up drips and excess Betadine outside the hairless one-inch diameter surrounding the wound.

9. Allow the Betadine to air dry. Do not blow on or fan the wound site, as this will lead to contamination of the otherwise sterile site. Do not allow the pet to lick or otherwise contact the wound either.

10. Apply a dab of antibiotic ointment to the wound to help stave off infection.

11. Leave the wound uncovered. Bandaging will reduce air flow and promote the growth of anaerobic bacteria, which ultimately leads to infection. The exception to this rule is injuries involving the foot or paw pad, as bandaging is necessary to avoid contamination and further injury.

12. Place an Elizabethan collar (a.k.a "lampshade collar" or "e-collar") on the dog. This will avoid licking and other direct contact with the wound site, thereby reducing the chance of infection and speeding healing.

13. Bring the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible for sutures and/or oral antibiotics if the wound is larger than one-half-inch or if the dog has suffered a bite wound.

14. Repeat the washing, disinfecting and dressing process twice daily until healed.

Tips & Warnings

• Assistance from a friend or family member can be helpful when tending to an injury, as the pet is often in pain and resistant.

• Apply ice packs for 20-minute increments to help limit inflammation and pain.

• Monitor the wound for increased swelling, redness, odor or discharge. This can indicate infection that requires veterinary attention.

• Photograph the wound daily and compare photographs. This will help owners track the progression of healing, as subtle changes can be difficult to spot

• Maintain a fully-stocked pet first aid kit in the car and home so that all necessary items are on-hand in the event of an emergency.

• Keep the name and address of a 24-hour veterinary clinic on-hand. In the event of a serious injury or acute illness, you want to know where you can take your pet for emergency care, instead of wasting valuable time looking for help.

• Do not bandage the wound. This will promote the growth of bacteria, increasing the risk of infection. The exception is in the case of a foot, paw or pad pad injury.

• Look for signs of infection, like swelling, redness, discharge, a foul odor, or a lack of improvement at the injury site. An infection will require veterinary attention and possibly a prescription of oral antibiotics.

• Beware of aggression. Pain can elicit aggressive responses in pets.

Resources

• Does My Pet's Wound Need Stitches?
• Signs of Infection in Your Pet
• More on Cleaning a Pet's Wound
• Creating a Pet First Aid Kit or Emergency Kit