How to Care for Scars on Dogs From Litter Mates

Puppies love to play with their litter mates, sometimes roughly. While play fighting, puppies learn bite inhibition. One puppy bites another and it yelps, indicating the bite was too hard. These bites can leave scars, particularly on thin-skinned breeds such as the Greyhound. Scars don't usually require much attention because scar tissue is the product of a healed wound. Sometimes though, dogs aggravate scar tissue by licking and scratching, forming hot spots that need to be treated.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check your dog's scar for any signs of redness, oozing or irritation. These are signs of an infection. Keep the area clean with a wound disinfectant from your first aid kit. If it doesn't get better within a day or two, consult your veterinarian.

    • 2

      Stop your dog from licking, chewing or scratching the scar. Sometimes, dog's hyper-focus on scars, repeatedly traumatizing the skin. You may need to use an Elizabethan or E-collar, a hard plastic cone that goes around your dog's neck to prevent it from licking, scratching and chewing.

    • 3

      Apply a topical treatment, such as a hydrocortisone cream, to stop the scar from itching. Make sure your dog doesn't lick the cream off. You may need to use the E-collar in conjunction with the cream.

    • 4

      Apply a skin lotion with vitamins E or B to the scar to keep the skin soft and healthy. Some veterinarians recommend using aloe vera lotion; it's soothing on the skin but also toxic to dogs.