A dog’s curiousity can sometimes lead to cuts, scrapes, or more serious injuries. Any type of open wound injuries will require prompt and proper care to avoid infection and speed up healing. While serious injuries always require prompt veterinary attention, minor wounds can often be managed at home with the right approach. Knowing how to assess, clean, and protect an open wound is an essential skill for any dog owner.

Step-by-Step Wound Care for Dogs

1. Restrain and Assess the Injury 

When a dog is hurt, even the gentlest pet can become defensive due to pain. Before you start first aid:

• Use a leash or have someone help gently restrain your dog.
• Put on gloves or sanitize your hands with an alcohol wipe. Avoid using uncleansed, bare hands to handle the wound as bacteria from your skin can worsen the wound.
• In more serious cases, a basket or soft muzzle can prevent defensive nipping.
• Assess the wound’s severity. Look for deep cuts, heavy bleeding, foreign bodies, or exposed bone/muscle. Deep, impaled, severe wounds or uncontrollable bleeding require immediate veterinary care. 

2. Stop the Bleeding

• Apply gentle, steady pressure with a clean towel, cloth, or sterile gauze.
• For most small wounds, bleeding stops within a few minutes.
• If the bleeding is still heavy after 10 minutes of pressure, get to veterinary help right away. 

3. Remove Debris and Trim Hair

Keeping the wound area clean is crucial for healing.

• Carefully clip or shave the fur around the wound. This prevents hair from sticking to the injury and helps you see it clearly.
• Remove visible debris like dirt, grass, or splinters with clean tweezers. 

4. Clean the Wound

Cleaning removes bacteria and reduces infection risk:

• Rinse gently with saline solution or plain cooled, boiled water.
• You can also use pet-safe antiseptic solutions like diluted chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine 0.05% is commonly used as an antiseptic solution for skin disinfection and wound care. Avoid hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or harsh soaps as they can damage healthy tissue and slow healing.
• Pat dry with sterile gauze. Do not rub. 

5. Apply Wound Ointment

• Avoid human wound ointments unless specifically approved by your vet, as some ingredients can be toxic to dogs.
• Use only pet-safe ointments that are safe if licked or ingested by dogs like this MicrocynAH Wound and Skin Care Hydrogel for Dogs & Cats. 

6. Bandage the Wound

Bandaging protects the wound and prevents contamination:

• Place a sterile non-stick pad or gauze over the wound.
• Secure with a bandage or vet wrap, ensuring it’s snug but not too tight to avoid cutting off circulation.
• If the bandage becomes wet or soiled, it should be changed immediately to prevent bacterial growth.
• If the wound is left unbandaged (per vet advice), it must be cleaned and monitored frequently.
• For paws, use the PawFlex MediMitt Bandages For Dogs, a bandage designed for dogs’ paws. Bandaging a dog’s paw can be tricky, but MediMitt is designed to slip on easily and provide a secure, comfortable fit.

7. Prevent Licking or Biting

Dogs will instinctively lick wounds, and this can introduce bacteria and delay healing.

• Use an Elizabethan collar (“cone”) or a soft recovery collar like this SALA First Aid Comfy Recovery Soft E-Collar For Dogs & Cats to prevent licking and chewing. 

8. Ongoing Care and Monitoring

• Change the bandage and clean the wound at least once a day, or as directed by your vet.
• Watch for signs of infection. If any of these signs appear, see your veterinarian promptly.
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Heat around the wound
  • Discharge (pus or foul odor)
  • Changes in appetite, energy, or signs of fever 

9. When to See the Vet Immediately

Not all wounds can be managed at home. Seek veterinary care if:

• The wound is deep, large, or jagged.
• There’s heavy bleeding that won’t stop.
• Foreign objects are embedded in the wound.
• There are signs of infection.
• Your dog is in significant pain, limping, or unusually lethargic.
• The injury is near the eyes, joints, or genital area. 

Why Proper Wound Care Matters

Even minor wounds can quickly escalate if not handled properly. Infection, delayed healing, or complications like abscesses are common when wounds are left untreated or cleaned incorrectly.

Prompt and correct wound care:

• Reduces infection risk
• Minimizes pain and discomfort
• Promotes faster healing
• Prevents unnecessary vet visits for complications 

What to Keep in Your Dog First Aid Kit

Having a well-stocked dog first aid kit ensures you can respond quickly when accidents happen. Get a pet-specific first aid kit like this Suisa Emergency First Aid Kit For Dogs & Cats, then add the other items not found in the kit like sterile gauze pads, wound dressings, bandages or vet wrap, e-collar, disposable gloves and scissors. Alternatively, you can include pet-specific items into your human first aid kit.

Recovery Tips After a Wound

• Ensure your dog rests and avoids rough play while healing.
• Provide a clean, comfortable resting area away from dirt and dust.
• Follow your vet’s instructions for medications and re-check appointments.
• Offer a nutritious, balanced diet to support immune function and tissue repair. 

Caring for an open wound in a dog isn’t just about cleaning and covering it. It’s about protecting infection, your pet’s health and preventing complications. Learn the right steps to wound cleaning and stay alert for warning signs. Even if a wound appears minor, proper attention and gentle care are essential. A few minutes of thoughtful first aid can mean the difference between a quick recovery and a painful, prolonged problem.

KATHERINE KHOO

Katherine is a Pet Nutrition Specialist and GDP’s Pet Wellness Advisor. She is committed to helping pet owners make informed dietary and lifestyle choices in nurturing healthy pets. Katherine is also a practicing Nutritional Therapist (human nutrition) and has been helping hundreds of clients to heal naturally with nutrients.