How to Treat Pet Wounds at Home

No matter where your pet goes, he is going to be exposed to some kind of danger and may get hurt. So, what can you do to avoid that from happening? The best thing you can do is be well-prepared and know how to treat wounds in case of an emergency.

Your dogs can bump into objects or get scratched by something at home. However, the same thing can happen outside but with a higher possibility danger of getting bit or hurt by another dog. Although the best thing to do is taking your dog to the vet, you can treat pet wounds at home if they aren’t so severe. 

How to treat your dog’s wounds at home

Before you can treat pet wounds at home, you need to know how to do it and what steps to follow. This article will show you where to start below!

Check the deepness of the wound

A very deep or severe wound has to be treated by a veterinarian. First, you must analyze the wound. However, this might be difficult because dogs don’t like to stay put. If you are unable to see how deep it is because there is too much blood, then take a gauze pad and press it on the area to gently remove some of the liquid. The gauze pad will absorb some of the blood and you’ll be able to see the wound’s deepness and figure out what to do next.

Clean the area

You might have to trim the hair around the wound. Do it carefully to avoid hurting the animal. First, wash the wound with soap and water to remove any dust and bacteria that might have contaminated the wound. If possible, use warm water because it cleans better.

Disinfect

Now it’s time to apply a topical product to disinfect the wound. After washing it with soap and water, put some ice wrapped in a cloth on the affected area to reduce swelling and help calm the animal down and to ease the pain. The best thing to use is iodine. Never use rubbing alcohol because it may sting your dog and he might retaliate negatively.

Next, apply a gauze pad damped with equal amounts of water and iodine on the wound. Gauze pads are the best to use because they’re sterile and leave no residue. Apply the mixture to the wound three times a day. You can also use ointments, as long as the animal tolerates them. They will speed up the healing. Check with your dog’s vet to know which one you used use on your pet.

Let wounds air dry, but protect them

Normally, you should let wounds air out and dry, because covering them keeps them from getting moist and prevents them from healing. They’re are some body locations where you might have to prevent your dog from licking or scratching the wound. You can ask the veterinarian to put an “Elizabethan collar” on your dog that will prevent him from having contact with the wounds.

Treating pet wounds at home isn’t complicated once you know how to do it. Follow these tips and everything will turn out fine. Just remember that these tips are for minor injuries. If they’re severe, then you should immediately take your animal to the vet. Use only products that don’t sting your pet, like disinfectants and creams, because their side-effects make the wound even worse.