As adventurous and energetic beings, it’s not surprising to find your dog with a cut or scrape from time-to-time. Dogs don’t make much of a fuss about injuries, unless they’re serious enough to limit their mobility. Although no one wants to see their dog get hurt, the good news is minor wounds can often be treated at home with the proper tools and knowledge! Tending a wound at home can actually be a bonding experience for you and your precious pooch. But we just want to cover a few things before you add “dog nurse” to your resume! Here’s how to treat your dog’s wound at home.
Inspect The Wound
In order to know the best approach to care for a wound, it’s best to inspect it first. Do you see a cut or scratch? If so, this is likely to be dealt with at home. Any lumps, bumps, or wounds with discharge should get a professional opinion. Pay attention to your dog’s movement to see if this injury caused any disability. This can be a sign that the injury is much deeper than the surface level. Lacerations that need stitches will have to wait for the vet. If the issue seems to be surface level, then you can continue to the next part of the healing process.
Gather Supplies
The supplies you’ll need to tend the wound will depend on the wound. Some useful items to always have on hand are: triple antibiotic ointment, gauze, vet wrap, Q-tips, tweezers, saline spray, gloves, an ice pack, and a wash cloth. These are often items one might have in their home already. A first-aid kit is generally full of the essentials for treating wounds, so it may be a good idea to buy or make one!
Stop Bleeding
Next, if there’s bleeding you’ll need to make it stop. A simple way to clot blood is by adding some pressure to it. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or it will cut off circulation to the area. If possible, raising the wound higher than the heart will help slow bleeding in the area of concern too. Other hacks for stopping bleeding are flour and white bread. This especially comes in handy for broken nails.
Clean The Wound
Once you have the bleeding under control, it’s time to clean the wound. Cleaning open wounds is the best way to prevent infection. Use warm water and soap on a wash cloth to clean the area. Or you can use saline spray or an antiseptic spray to clean a little more thoroughly.
Dress The Wound
After successfully cleaning the wound, it’s time to add a layer of protection to speed up the recovery time. Once the wound is free of all dirt and debris, add a little triple antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection. It’s true that open wounds heal quicker than covered ones, so don’t resort to covering the wound unless absolutely necessary.
Prevention
Dogs are natural healers, which means they’ll try to lick the pain away. But what they don’t understand is that their saliva often contains harmful bacteria that can cause infection to an open wound. Cone collars are a great way to keep a dog from licking a wound. No dog enjoys wearing a cone, but sometimes we have to sacrifice a dog’s comfort for the best interest of their well-being.
If you face a wound that you aren’t sure how to handle, it’s best to leave the treatment to the professionals. There’s no point in overwhelming yourself because it will just stress your dog out more too. Taking care of your dog can be easy enough when you follow this handy guide! Check with SpaDog weekly for more tips, tricks, and useful information on spoiling your dog in healthy and fun ways!