Skin Wounds on a Dog

Canine skin wounds are common, as dogs love to play and can get rambunctious. Skin wounds can affect any dog, can be minor or severe, and can require varying amounts of treatment. Your veterinarian can advise you about care for your dog's wound.

  1. Types

    • Types of canine skin wounds include abrasions, cuts, lacerations (deep cuts), punctures and abscesses.

    Causes

    • Skin wounds causes include fighting, being hit by cars, climbing into tight spaces, bites, scratches, traumatic injury and even surgical wounds.

    Treatment

    • Depending on the cause of the wound, treatment may include soaking the wound, bandaging the wound, antibiotics (oral and/or topical) and stitches. More serious wounds may require surgical treatment.

    Considerations

    • A dog's natural instinct is to lick the wounds on its body, but this can cause damage to the wound that has just been treated or dressed. An Elizabethan collar (lampshade collar) helps protect wounds by preventing your dog from biting or licking wounds.

    Warning

    • Be sure to treat any skin wound your dog may have. Without proper treatment, the wound may become severely infected within 48 hours, and a minor wound may become a major problem requiring prescription medicine and even surgery.