How to Soothe Broken Bleeding Skin on a Dog

Broken, bleeding skin on a dog is typically found on the legs or tail and is caused by such things as animal bites, burns, splinters or lacerations from items such as glass or metal. It is essential before treating a wound yourself to stop the bleeding and determine the seriousness of the injury. Soothing the skin from a wound includes such things as cleaning it and applying ointment and bandages. In addition, it is important to reduce infection and inflammation so that the skin will heal quickly.

Things You'll Need

  • Bandages
  • Cleaning solution
  • Syringe
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Medication
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stop the bleeding by applying constant pressure to the wound with a sterile bandage for several minutes. If the bleeding will not stop, take your dog to a veterinarian. A vein, artery or blood vessel may be damaged. Once the blood flow is stopped, the wound will start to clot and heal, reducing skin irritation.

    • 2

      Irrigate a wound on the legs and tail with items such as betadine, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial wash or saline solution. If the wound is on the chest or abdomen, rinse it with warm water. Using a disposable syringe, rinse gently one to two times until dirt and debris are gone. Cleaning the wound reduces infection, which will help the skin to heal.

    • 3

      Dry the wound with a damp sterile pad or cloth. Do not use a dry pad that will stick and cause bleeding, further irritating the skin. Apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the injury with a bandage. Change bandages once a day and look for signs of infection, such as pus, swelling and redness, which aggravate the skin.

    • 4

      Call your veterinarian to discuss prescription and non-prescription medications that can be given to your dog to reduce infection and soothe the skin for healing such as anti-histamines, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Fish oil works as an anti-inflammatory, which helps in soothing the skin. Fish oil can be found at pet supply stores or online, and they can be added directly to food.

    • 5

      Apply items such as aloe vera gel, witch hazel or an even mixture of baking soda and water to the area around injury to ease irritated skin. If the dog is able to take a bath, oatmeal shampoo and Epsom salts work to relieve and soothe the skin. Apply products sparingly, so the wound does not get wet. It it does get wet, it may cause bleeding and infection.