How to Clean a Dog's Wound
- 1). Muzzle the pet who has suffered an injury. In the absence of a traditional muzzle, a bandanna, rag or even tape can be utilized as a makeshift muzzle. Cleaning and handling a pet's injury can be painful and even the most well-behaved, loving, docile dog can lash out aggressively when he's in pain.
- 2). Use a paper towel to apply firm pressure to the wound site to stem the flow of blood. It may take several minutes for the bleeding to cease.
If the bleeding is excessive, if the bleeding is uncontrollable or if the blood is emerging in spurts, immediately transport the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment. - 3). Trim or shave the fur surrounding the wound to allow for better visibility of the wound site and improved airflow. A hairless one-inch diameter should be created around the wound, and the fur should be sufficiently trimmed so that it does not directly contact the wound or the one-inch buffer zone.
- 4). Wash the wound using an anti-bacterial soap. Thoroughly wash in and around the wound.
- 5). Rinse away the soap and flush the wound with clean running water. This flushing process should be performed for two full minutes to properly rinse away soap, bacteria and debris. In the absence of direct access to running water, fill a clean container and pour the water over the wound, repeating the process for two full minutes.
- 6). Use a clean paper towel to dry the area surrounding the wound. From this point forward, avoid direct contact with the wound and the one-inch buffer zone surrounding the laceration, scrape, gash or bite to help ensure sterility.
- 7). Pour a small amount ot Betadine over the wound site. Applying generous amounts of Betadine using a sterile gauze pad will also suffice, though pouring the antiseptic fluid directly onto the wound will ensure that all the nooks and crannies are disinfected.
- 8). Using a clean paper towel, wipe up drips and excess Betadine outside the hairless one-inch diameter surrounding the wound.
- 9). Allow the Betadine to air dry. Do not blow on or fan the wound site, as this will lead to contamination of the otherwise sterile site. Do not allow the pet to lick or otherwise contact the wound either.
- 10
Apply a dab of antibiotic ointment to the wound to help stave off infection. - 11
Leave the wound uncovered. Bandaging will reduce air flow and promote the growth of anaerobic bacteria, which ultimately leads to infection. The exception to this rule is injuries involving the foot or paw pad, as bandaging is necessary to avoid contamination and further injury. - 12
Place an Elizabethan collar (a.k.a "lampshade collar" or "e-collar") on the dog. This will avoid licking and other direct contact with the wound site, thereby reducing the chance of infection and speeding healing. - 13
Bring the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible for sutures and/or oral antibiotics if the wound is larger than one-half-inch or if the dog has suffered a bite wound. - 14
Repeat the washing, disinfecting and dressing process twice daily until healed.
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