How to Clean a Dog's Bite Wound to Avoid Infection

There's a good chance that at some point in a dog's life, he or she will sustain a dog bite in a scuffle with another dog. Most dog bites are not disfiguring, but bite wounds are very prone to infection because the bacteria in the biting dog's mouth is essentially injected into the dog's puncture wound. A visit to the veterinarian for an examination and a prescription for antibiotics are necessary in all cases of a dog with a dog bite, but proper care following the dog fight will limit the dog's chances of developing a serious and painful infection.

Things You'll Need

• Anti-bacterial soap
• Betadine
• Antibiotic ointment
• Sterile Wound Wash Saline
• Sterile Gauze (rolled)
• A reusable ice pack
• A muzzle
• A shower or bathtub -OR- a sink and clean container to transport water
• A clean towel
• An Elizabethan Collar (aka e-collar or lampshade collar)

Instructions

1. Begin by muzzling the injured dog. Even a docile, friendly dog can act aggressively when in pain. Muzzling a dog will ensure that the dog doesn't hurt his or her caretakers.

2. Apply pressure to the dog bite wound site with clean paper towels to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding will not stop, if the bite wound is on the face, or if the skin is torn or ripped, use rolled gauze to wrap the wound and immediately transport the injured dog to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment.

3. Use scissors or a razor to trim the fur away from the site of the bite wound to allow a good view of the dog bite and proper air flow. This is a good opportunity to carefully check the dog for any other more minor bites, scratches or injuries.

4. Once the bleeding has stopped and the fur has been trimmed, escort the dog to a bath tub, shower or sink.

5. Using an anti-bacterial soap like Dial, wash the wound for a period of two full minutes.

6. Once the wound has been washed, flush the wound thoroughly for an additional two full minutes to help flush away bacteria, soap and fur trimmings. Allow the water to run into the wound. In the absence of a tub or shower, use a clean container to pour water over the wound and place a towel under the dog to catch the water.

7. Once the washing and flushing process is complete, use a clean towel to dry the dog.

8. Using bottled wound wash saline (available in the first aid section of most drug stores), flush the dog bite puncture wound again. Aim the stream of saline directly into the wound.

9. Pour betadine - an antiseptic solution - over and into the dog's puncture wound. When betadine is not present, Hydrogen Peroxide is okay for the initial cleaning. Position the dog so the betadine flows INTO the wound. After this step, the wound should not be directly touched or contacted.

10. Use sterile gauze or a clean paper towel to wipe up any betadine drips. Leave a sterile disinfected one-inch perimeter - allow the betadine in this one-inch perimeter to air dry.

11. Using a sterile gauze pad or a piece of sterile rolled gauze, apply a generous dab of antibiotic ointment into the dog's bite wound.

12. If the wound is situated on a foot or limb, cover the wound with two or three layers of rolled gauze to avoid contamination. Only use minimal layers of rolled gauze to preserve air flow to the wound site. Bite wounds on the torso, head and neck should be left uncovered when possible. If the dog is licking at the wound, cover the site with gauze until an Elizabethan collar (a.k.a. lampshade collar or e-collar) is available.

13. If the bite wound is located on the legs, tail, or torso, an Elizabethan collar (also known as a e-collar or lampshade collar) will be required to prevent the dog from licking the wound. Save e-collars from prior surgeries and procedures or purchase one at the pet supply store like Petco or PetSmart and add it to the pet's first aid kit.

14. Steps 5 through 12 must be repeated THREE TIMES PER DAY to avoid infection in a dog with a bite wound. Perform three-times-a-day cleanings until the dog's bite wound has healed.

Tips & Warnings

• Swelling is very common with bite wounds and puncture wounds in dogs. To help lessen the swelling, apply an ice pack for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.

• Applying an ice pack just before performing three-times-daily cleanings, as the wound can essentially swell shut, trapping bacteria inside.

• Obtain proof of rabies vaccinations from the owner of the other dog who was involved in the dog fight. Without proof of a rabies vaccination, special and potentially expensive treatment may be required.

• Always keep your pet's rabies vaccinations current to avoid placing your pet at risk of serious illness in the case of a dog fight or other bite injury incident.

• Always visit a veterinarian for an exam and antibiotics following a dog bite incident. In 9 out of 10 times, the dog bite will get infected. Once an infection is present, it's more painful for the dog, healing time is extended and it becomes more expensive to treat and heal the dog's wound. Save money, time and pain by visiting the veterinarian early on.

• Dogs who are bitten by an unfamiliar dog or a wild animal are at risk of acquiring an illness like rabies. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary attention.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Cleaning a Dog's Wound
• Does My Dog's Wound Need Stitches?
• Signs of an Infection in Pets
• First Aid Kits for Pets
• Treating Bite Wounds in Pets