Wound Remedy

The most important aspect of treating a wound is preventing infection. Wounds are painful enough, but when they are infected, not only do they hurt more, they can make the healing process longer, which adds to your pet's discomfort. With proper treatment, you can help your dog's wound to clear up quick and infection-free.

  1. Cleaning the Wound

    • After the wound has stopped bleeding, it is essential to clean any bacteria or other debris that is in the wound. With clean hands, cut or clip the hair around the wound at least an inch back. This will keep the hair out and prevent further contamination. In addition, it will also allow more air to reach the wound, which helps with healing. Flush the wound with water or a sterile solution for a full two minutes, if possible. The longer you can clean the wound, the more bacteria will be removed.

      Clean the wound with surgical scrub or any anti-bacterial soap. Use cotton balls, gauze or clean fingers to work the soap into the wound. This will likely be painful for your dog, so you may need restrain your dog, or if you think your dog may bite, consider using a muzzle. Flush the wound again to completely remove all of the soap. Disinfect the wound with betadine or hydrogen peroxide. According to PetHealth.com, hydrogen peroxide should only be used at full strength for the first two cleanings, as it can damage tissue. After the initial uses, create a diluted mixture of half water and half peroxide. You can either apply the betadine or hydrogen peroxide directly to the wound or use gauze.

    Treating the Wound

    • After you have cleaned the wound, the next step is treating it. Apply a generous amount of antibiotic ointment directly to the wound, such as Neosporin. Repeat the cleaning and treatment process two to three times a day until the wound is healed. If the wound starts to look worse or becomes irritated or infected, you may need to visit your veterinarian for oral antibiotics. In addition, if the wound has a large amount of skin hanging, is more than one-half-inch long or appears to be deep, it may require stitches.

    Wound Aftercare

    • Most wounds do not need to be bandaged. It is beneficial for a wound to be exposed to air, as this aids with healing. It is essential to keep your dog from licking or chewing at the wound, which can cause additional damage. Consider placing an Elizabethan collar on your dog if you are concerned the licking could cause damage. Most pet stores or veterinarians will have them on-hand.