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.
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