How to Clean a Dog’s Wound

Shave the injured skin with an electric clipper. If the bleeding from the wound cannot be controlled, you should begin the cleaning process right away. If your dog’s hair is too long, you need to shave it off so that it can be cleaned safely. If you don’t have a clipper, you can use scissors to cut your dog’s hair. However, avoid cutting too deeply so as not to cause further injury to the wound. Shaving the hair around the wound helps you see the wound better and prevents dirt from accumulating and irritating the skin when the hairs penetrate the wound.

Wash the wound with warm salt water. Dissolve 2 teaspoons of sea salt in 1 cup of warm water. Put saline in a straw or syringe (no needles), then spray gently on the wound to rinse it out. Wash the wound until the skin tissue is clean. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

• If you don’t have a straw or syringe, you can pour saline directly onto the wound.
• If your dog has a leg injury, you can soak the dog’s paw in a small bowl, plate, or bucket of salt water for 3-5 minutes. Use a clean towel to dry your feet.

Disinfect the wound. ^[5] Dilute Betadine (Povidine Iodine) or Npvasan (Chlorhexidine) in warm water. Use this solution to wash or re-soak the wound. This solution can be used to clean the wound in the first place instead of saline.

Dry the wound. Use sterile gauze or clean, absorbent material to dry the wound. Do not rub the wound. Instead, it should be applied gently to avoid causing pain or injury to the dog.

Apply antibiotic creams or sprays that are safe for humans. Spraying can scare dogs, even irritate them. Creams or ointments should not be used to avoid accumulation of dirt in the wound and to prevent the dog from licking the medicine off. These products should only be used where it is possible to prevent the dog from licking the applied wound. You can apply gauze to the wound for protection or use a specialized Elizabethan collar for dogs.

• Avoid spraying the medication in the dog’s eyes.
• Steroid ointments such as Hydrocortisone or Betamethasone should not be used to avoid disrupting wound healing. Only antibiotic ointments should be used.
• Do not use antifungal creams (Ketoconazp, Clotrimazpe) unless directed by your veterinarian.
• If you have any questions, you should call your veterinarian before applying antibiotics to your dog’s wound.

Check the wound daily. If you notice signs of infection, you should take your dog to the vet right away. The sign of infection that you should look out for is a foul-smelling wound accompanied by yellow, green, or gray pus.

Take your dog to the vet right away if the dog has an eye injury. Any cut or damage to the eye can lead to permanent damage to your dog’s vision. To increase the chances of recovery, you should take your dog to the vet right away for treatment and treatment.

Take the dog to stitch if the wound is too deep. If the wound seems serious and won’t heal on its own, you need to take your dog to the vet right away. Wounds that penetrate the skin and affect the muscles, tendons, and inner fat layer need professional treatment. After the evaluation, your veterinarian may stitch the dog’s wound to help it heal.

Take your dog to the vet if bitten. Bites can cause tissue damage and are difficult to heal, so the wound should be cleaned by a veterinarian and drained after the dog is anesthetized. An animal’s mouth is full of bacteria, so dogs are at high risk of infection even if the bite doesn’t appear to be serious. ^[6]

Have your veterinarian squeeze the fluid or open the wound if necessary. If the wound is filled with fluid and won’t heal, you should ask your veterinarian to squeeze out all the fluid. In addition, your veterinarian will also perform debridement surgery to remove damaged or infected tissue from the injured area. Veterinarians need to anesthetize the dog when performing both procedures.