How to heal a dog wound fast & effectively

As a dog owner, seeing your dog injured and in pain can be frightening and heartbreaking. From cuts and scrapes to more serious lacerations, it’s important to know how to handle the situation when it occurs and how to properly care for the wound. With a little know-how and attentive care, you can encourage healthy healing and prevent infection and other long-term wound issues. Unsure how to provide your pup with post-injury wound care? Don’t fret. We are happy to walk you through how to heal a dog wound fast.

What to Do If Your Dog Becomes Injured

Accidents happen. If your dog gets into trouble, don’t panic. Breathe and remind yourself that situations like yours occur all the time. This will allow you to assess the situation with a clear head and with reason. Use these steps to determine how to handle the incident:

Step 1: Immobilize Your Dog

Even the sweetest, calmest dogs can become aggressive, defensive, and erratic when in pain [1]. This can make an injury worse or result in an incidental injury to you or another person.

To prevent this, you will want to contain and immobilize your dog.

First, leash your dog to prevent an escape and further injury. Keep in mind that you’re containing your dog so they don’t worsen their injury–even if they resist, you’re doing the right thing.

Then, use a towel or blanket to wrap up or swaddle your dog. If you can, get assistance from another person. If your dog bares their teeth, growls, or snaps at you, proceed with caution, talking softly to your dog, and moving slowly. Do not put yourself at risk of being bitten. Use a muzzle or additional towel over your dog’s head if your dog shows signs of biting [2].

Step 2: Assess the Wound & Determine if a Vet Visit is Necessary

After immobilizing your dog, you need to assess the severity of the injury. This will help you decide if your dog needs to see a vet or if the dog wound can be treated at home.

Dog Wounds that Require Veterinary Care:

Any of the following situations require prompt veterinary care. We recommend that you call your vet on the way, so they’re ready for your arrival.

An injury that penetrates fully into the skin. These include deep cuts and bite wounds.
Any trauma that renders your dog unable to walk or move comfortably.
An injury that does not stop bleeding after you apply even pressure for three to five minutes.
A wound to a vulnerable or sensitive area of the body or covers a large area.
An injury that has become infected. If you notice pus, swelling around the wound, fever nearby the wound, or intense redness.

When it comes to dog wounds, you’re better safe than sorry. Call your vet if you’re unsure if the wound is severe enough to require a visit.

Dog Wounds that Can be Treated at Home:

Minor wounds that do not go deep into the skin can be handled by you at home. Even though these types of injuries are less extreme, it’s still vital that you act promptly to treat the wound and prevent infection for the fastest healing.

Step 3: How Do You Treat a Dog Wound at Home?

Keep a pet first aid kit on hand. This will make it easier to quickly care for your dog.

What supplies should you stock your dog’s first aid kit with?

A dog coat trimmer
Paper towels
Gauze
Cotton swabs
Antimicrobial wound and skincare liquid
Antiseptic solution
A muzzle

To attend to your dog’s wound, you first want to clean the cut. To make things easier, enlist a buddy to help. You may want to place your dog on a table or counter if they’re small enough.

Remove Fur: If the cut is hidden beneath fur, buzz the area with the dog fur trimmer.
Clean the Wound: Then, flush the area with warm water. Be sure any visible dirt or other debris is cleared out of the wound. A squirt bottle or an even stream of warm water can remove stubborn dirt.
Dry the Wound: Once the wound is clear, gently dab the area with a paper towel.
Apply Antiseptic and Antimicrobial Liquid: Apply your antiseptic to the cut. Then apply your antimicrobial liquid to encourage the best and quickest healing. Choosing an antimicrobial liquid that doesn’t sting makes the process more comfortable for your dog and easier for you.

How to Heal a Dog Wound Fast Once You’ve Treated the Wound

After your vet has treated your dog or after you’ve thoroughly cleaned and treated the wound, you will want to follow up with wound aftercare.

Consider a Cone

Encourage your dog not to lick or fuss with the wound. If you can cover the wound with gauze and a wrap, do so. But many dogs will pull these off nearly immediately.

If your dog insists on trying to lick their cut, you will want to purchase a cone. Relentless licking will remove the antibacterial liquid, leaving the wound vulnerable to bacteria and infection. It can also worsen the abrasion, reopen the cut, break your dog’s stitches, wash away your wound care liquid, or rub away newly formed skin [3]. Using a non-irritating wound care liquid can reduce your dog’s impulse to lick the area.

How to Heal a Dog Wound Fast? Clean and Check the Wound Regularly & Re-Apply Antibacterial Liquid

You will want to check on and clean your dog’s wound three times every day. This allows you to monitor the condition and re-apply antimicrobial liquid to ensure you heal your dog’s wound.

There’s no need to scrub or rub your dog’s wound, but if you notice debris like hair or dirt sticking to it, you can gently remove the debris using a cotton swab. You do want to reapply your wound-healing liquid to prevent infection and foster the fasting healing.

As You Clean and Re-Dress the Wound Look for Warning Signs of Infection:

Pus
Deep redness
Yellow or green discharge
Fever of the wound area
An off smell
Red streaks originating from the wound
Failure to heal

If you notice any of these symptoms of infection, call your vet and make an appointment [4].

Over time, you will see your dog’s cut go through the stages of healing. Once new skin has formed, you can discontinue applying any antibacterial liquid to the wound.

Allow Your Dog to Rest and Recover

After a traumatic incident that causes a wound, your dog will need rest and want to relax. Even though returning to normal activity sounds like fun, too much too fast can hinder healing and lengthen the time it takes for your dog to fully recover.

How to Heal a Dog Wound Fast: Your Dog’s At-Home Follow-Up Care Matters

You are your dog’s lifeline when it comes to wound care. You want to act promptly, know when to go to the vet, use high-quality antimicrobial liquid to prevent infection, and monitor the wound daily. Following up by keeping your dog’s wound clean and covered with antibacterial liquid will speed up the healing process. With all of these factors, your dog’s wound will heal fast.

Stock your dog’s first aid kit with an antimicrobial liquid that doesn’t sting or cause irritation. Order the best antimicrobial liquid on the market.

References:

[1] https://www.livescience.com/20969-aggressive-dogs-hip-pain.html

[2] https://www.thesprucepets.com/signs-a-dog-may-bite-1118537

[3] https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/should-dogs-lick-wounds

[4] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325040