Taking care of your dog’s health is one of the most important responsibilities of being a dog owner. Because of their playful nature, dogs are prone to injuries. When they do get hurt, it’s up to us to give our dogs the care they need.
But first, let’s talk about what dog wounds are to know how we can heal and treat them.
What are Dog Wounds?
Dog wounds are any type of injuries that break, damage, or open the skin and its underlying tissue. This can come from accidents, fights, or even blunt trauma. Here are the common types:
Scratches and Abrasions
Scratches and abrasions are superficial wounds that typically affect only the top layer of your dog’s skin.
If your dog has wounds like these, then it’s often a result of common outdoor activities, such as rough play with animals, exploring under branches and bushes, and scraping against rough surfaces such as roads and pavements.
While these wounds might seem minor at first glance, they can still be painful for your dog. The exposed area will feel more sensitive to any form of touch, and the wound itself can become infected.
Common signs of scratches and abrasions include:
Redness or swelling
Minor bleeding
Persistent licking of the area
Cuts and Lacerations
Dog cuts and lacerations are more serious wounds because they involve deeper layers of skin and tissue. These types of wounds are often caused by sharp objects, such as knives, scissors, broken glass, sharp rocks, and deformed metals.
These dog wounds can vary in severity, from a shallow cut that only affects the skin to a deep laceration that penetrates the muscle or other tissues. Dog paw wounds are a common scenario where cuts and lacerations are present.
Some of the signs of cuts and lacerations in dogs include:
Visible open tear
Light to heavy bleeding
Pain, swelling, and limping
Puncture Wounds
Puncture wounds are small but deep wounds caused by sharp objects like nails or thorns. Unlike cuts and lacerations, which are usually easy to see, puncture wounds can be more challenging to identify because they often close up quickly on the surface while the deeper tissue remains damaged.
This can make puncture wounds particularly tricky, as they are prone to infection, especially if the object that caused the wound is dirty. Some of the signs of puncture wounds include:
Small, round wounds
Little bleeding
Pain, redness, and bruising
Burns
Burns are dog wounds that are caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, and, sometimes, extreme sun exposure. The effect of these factors can bring deadly effects to your dogs, from mild, first-degree burns to third-degree burns, even affecting the inner tissues.
Burns are somewhat common in dog paws and require immediate veterinary care due to the severe pain and increased risk of infection. The general symptoms include:
Red and inflamed skin
Peeling and blistering areas
Hair loss and slightly burnt fur
Surgical Wounds
Surgical wounds come from clean incisions made by vets during a controlled procedure. These wounds are typically closed after the surgery to promote healing, but there will be occasions when these can reopen. This is called wound dehiscence.
This is usually because of a dog’s activity, which can involve a lot of biting, scratching, licking, and chewing at the stitched areas.
In some cases, factors such as bacterial infection, poor blood flow, excessive inflammation, tension on the wound, and poor surgical technique can cause the wound to reopen. Common signs of surgical wounds include:
Clean and straight incision line
Mild swelling and bruising
Redness in the area
Avulsions
Avulsions are much more serious injuries wherein the skin and tissues are forcibly torn away from the dog’s body, leaving open and exposed flaps. These are generally caused by car accidents, severe animal attacks, and significant trauma.
Some of the common areas affected are the bones, lips, and nerves. Signs of avulsions in dogs include:
Wide, open areas with exposed tissue
Heavy bleeding
Intense pain and sensitivity to touch
Bite Wounds
Now, bite wounds can be a mixture of puncture, tearing, and even bruising. It’s caused by a strong bite from another animal, especially when they get into a fight. Bite wounds are severe, especially when they come from a stray or rabid animal or dog.
These animals are usually unvaccinated, meaning they have an increased risk of certain bacteria and viruses. When these animals bite your dog, they can pass along these harmful pathogens. Common signs include:
Punctures, bruises, or torn skin
Significant redness and swelling
Pain, bleeding, and discomfort
How to Know if a Dog’s Wound Is Serious?
Dog wounds, no matter how big or small, all present a serious risk. These open injuries are notorious for being perfect spaces for bacteria to grow. Even minor puncture wounds can cause infections within the body if the object that caused them is dirty.
If a dog has wounds, they’ll likely bite, scratch, or lick them, making it worse and increasing the chances of an infection.
Infections are just the main thing. Dog wounds can also cause deep tissue trauma, even though it’s not clear on the surface. This can lead to damage to the nerves, muscles, and joints, affecting overall function.
Vet Tips: First Aid for Dog Wounds
The first aid for dog wounds is the most crucial part of any treatment process. Focus on first aid rather than on home remedies for dog wounds.
While the steps can differ based on the type of wound, a common approach is to start by gently cleaning the wound to remove any dirt, dust, and debris.
You can use water to wash them away, then use a pet-safe wound spray and wipes to clean the wound. Be sure not to rub on the wound, just gently tap on it.
When bleeding is present, use a clean cloth or sterile gauze pad to apply gentle pressure to the wound. However, when dealing with burns, the first step is to cool the area. Gently rinse the burn with cool water for a few minutes. This helps reduce the burning sensation.
After cleaning the wound, use pet-safe antiseptic or antimicrobial products to help prevent infection. Good options to use are cotton balls and gauze pads. Make sure to gently dab the antiseptic onto the affected area. Be careful not to use too much.
How to Heal a Dog Wound
Now that you’re finished with the first aid for dog wounds, here are specific steps for each type:
Scratches and Abrasions
Protect the Wound
In most cases, scratches and abrasions do not need to be bandaged, but you should monitor the wound closely. If your dog is licking or scratching the area excessively, you can use e-collars to help prevent licking the wound.
Monitor the Dog Wound
Be sure to monitor your dog for any signs of infection, inflammation, redness, swelling, warmth, or pus. Also, keep the wound dry and avoid baths for the meantime. If you notice any of these symptoms, or if the wound doesn’t start to heal within a few days, contact our vets for advice.
Cuts and Lacerations
Bandage the Wound
For deeper cuts or lacerations, bandaging is important to keep dirt and bacteria from the dog's wound. Use the gauze pad over the wound, wrap the area with a bandage, and make sure it’s not too tight. You can use medical tape to help keep it snug. Change the bandage routinely.
Monitor for Signs of Infection
Be sure to keep an eye on your dog’s wound. Healing a dog wound needs constant recovery and monitoring to make sure that healing is on its way. When you notice symptoms such as infections, redness, swelling, and a foul odor, be sure to contact our vets.
Puncture Wounds
Check for Signs
Puncture wounds are particularly prone to infection, so it’s essential to check the wound closely. When your dog’s wound has increased redness, swelling, and inflammation, along with signs of whining and crying, seek vet care.
Seek Veterinary Care
We’ll clean the wound and may recommend antibiotics to help treat the infection. In severe cases, we’ll drain any fluid or pus from the dog's wound. Our vets will provide home-care instructions to help you.
Help with Recovery
Be sure to keep the wound clean and protected with a bandage. Change the bandage daily, and keep the area dry to prevent further contamination. At the recovery stage, be sure to constantly monitor your dog’s wound.
Burns
Cover the Burn
When you’re done cooling down the burn, use a non-stick bandage or a clean, sterile cloth. This helps protect the burn from dirt and bacteria while also reducing the risk of infection.
Seek Veterinary Care
Burn wounds are very painful for our dogs and require professional treatment. Be sure to head down to the nearest vet clinic for urgent care. Here, we’ll prescribe pain medications and other necessary treatments such as antibiotics.
Monitor for Complications
Burns can lead to complications such as shock, dehydration, or systemic infection. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog to check for any signs of stress. These signs can be lethargy, rapid breathing, and weakness.
Surgical Wounds
Help With Recovery
Since surgical wounds come from the incisions during surgery, we’ll provide specific instructions on how to look after them. Check them daily for signs of infection, inflammation, a foul odor, or any other sign of complications.
Prevent your dog from licking or chewing the wound, as this can only worsen it. We suggest using an e-collar and reducing physical activity. Do not bathe your dog, and be sure to replace bandages daily or as instructed.
Avulsions
Seek Emergency Care
These veterinary emergencies will need immediate care. Do not try to close the wound yourself. When transporting your dog to the clinic, you can wrap the area with a soft, clean cloth or sterile gauze.
At the clinic, we’ll quickly clean the wound and assess the state of the dog's wound. We’ll look for any signs of nerve damage, fractures, soft tissue damage, and other related factors.
The treatment process will consist of options such as pain management, physical therapy, and surgery. Appropriate medications will be prescribed accordingly.
Help Your Dog Recover
Follow the vet’s instructions on recovery to the letter. From changing the bandages to providing medicines, your help will be crucial for your dog’s recovery.
Bite Wounds
Seek Vet Care
Bite wounds are highly dangerous, especially if they come from rabid animals. The punctures often drive bacteria and viruses into the dog’s tissues, where they’ll be hard to reach and clean. For this, our vets will work to flush out these pathogens with a sterile solution.
We’ll also remove damaged tissue to prevent infections and promote healing. The appropriate pain medications, antibiotics, and other medicines will be provided.
Monitor at Home
Be sure to keep an eye on the wound at home. Change the bandage daily or as instructed. Also, provide the medications at the designated schedule.
“Every wound tells a story. With the right care, it can end in healing and happiness.”
- Dr. Nenad Misura
Final Thoughts
Caring for your dog’s wounds is just one of the many duties of a pet owner. By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to provide effective first aid for dog wounds, as well as help for your dog’s recovery. Remember, when in doubt, our vets are always ready to help.
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