Dog Wound Care: Cuts, Bites, Punctures [Step-By-Step]

Dogs can sustain wounds in various settings—whether it’s from an accident at home, playing with other pets, or from outdoor activities. 

Dog wounds can be small cuts, bites, scratches, punctures, and deep wounds. For each kind of wound, there are specific dog wound care steps to follow. Read on to learn more about dog wound treatment tips from Sploot Vets.

Can A Dog's Wound Heal On Its Own?

Yes, small wounds on dogs can heal on their own if cleaned properly and kept away from dirt until a scab forms.

However, even small wounds can get infected. Some wounds may look small on the surface but can extend deep beneath the skin, as with puncture wounds and bite wounds. These kinds of wounds need to be treated by a vet.

When in doubt, having a veterinarian evaluate your pet’s wound will ensure further treatment is provided when needed. 

What Should I Do if My Pet Has a Wound? 

Sploot veterinarian, Dr. Deluty recommends the following key first steps if your pet has been injured: “Get your dog to a safe, dry, and clean location, checking for bleeding, and then placing a cone on your dog. Many minor wounds that may otherwise heal on their own can be made much worse or become infected if your pet is able to lick them.” 

What Medicine Is Good For Dog Wounds?

Because dogs may instinctively lick their wounds, it is always best to choose an antibiotic ointment or spray that is formulated for dogs, just in case they ingest some. 

However, before applying topical medicine on dog wounds, the wound needs to be cleaned with an unmedicated saline solution and allowed to dry.

→ Learn More - Dog First Aid Kit: 17 Must-Have Items [Vet-Approved]

How Do You Treat A Dog's Wound At Home?

NOT all dog wounds can be treated at home with topical antibiotics. When faced with large, deep, or infected dog wounds, the best a pet parent can do is administer first aid—and then promptly call an urgent care vet or emergency vet.  

Here are dog wound treatment tips for different kinds of dog wounds:

A. Small & Shallow Dog Wound Care (Cuts, Nicks, Abrasions)

Dog wounds are considered ‘small’ if they affect only the outer layer, are less than an inch long, and stop bleeding within a few minutes of gentle pressure.

Here are the steps for at-home dog wound treatment for small wounds:

1. Place an e-Cone (Elizabethan cone) or inflatable cone right away to prevent your dog from licking the wound.
2. Flush the wound using an oral syringe (no needle) and unmedicated saline solution OR clean water. Flush the wound until any debris is removed. 
3. With a clean gauze, pat the wound dry. 
4. Use another clean gauze to press gently down on the wound.
5. If the bleeding stops within a few minutes, apply a thin layer of dog-safe topical ointment or spray.
6. If the small dog wound bleeds profusely or bleeds continuously for more than a few minutes, it may be deeper than it looks. Reach out to an urgent care veterinarian for the next steps.

B. Animal Bites & Scratch Wound Care for Dogs

Scratches can produce long, moderately deep wounds while animal bites can lead to several puncture wounds and deep tissue damage. Bite wounds tend to be much more severe under the surface than they appear at first, due to the internal damage from ripping, pulling, or shaking during the bite. 

Deep scratch wounds have a moderately high chance of bacterial dog wound infection. Meanwhile, bite wounds are very high risk for infection. 

Infection can lead to abscesses, cellulitis, cat scratch fever, and so on. There is also the possibility of rabies infection—especially from bite wounds by an unvaccinated pet, feral dog or cat, or rabies reservoir species (e.g. bats, skunks, raccoons). 

If your dog gets bitten or scratched, here’s how to administer dog wound care or first aid:

1. Place an e-Cone (Elizabethan cone) or inflatable cone right away to prevent your dog from licking or biting the wound.
2. Flush the wound several times using an oral syringe (no needle) and unmedicated saline solution OR clean water. 
3. With a clean gauze, pat the wound dry. 
4. If the wound is bleeding, use another clean gauze to apply gentle pressure to help control the bleeding.
5. If the wounds are showing a decrease in bleeding, call an urgent care veterinarian. If the bleeding shows no improvement or is severe, contact an emergency vet. 
6. Prepare to bring your dog to the vet for in-clinic dog wound treatment, pain management, and complete evaluation.

C. Deep Wound & Puncture Wound Care for Dogs

Deep wounds and puncture wounds on dogs have a high chance of bacterial infection. Puncture wounds in particular are high-risk for abscess formation due to bacterial infection.

In addition, both types of wounds involve damage to several layers of skin, meaning that continued bleeding or damage to other internal structures is likely to happen.

If your dog has sustained a deep wound or puncture wound, here are the steps for dog wound first aid:

1. Place an e-Cone (Elizabethan cone) or inflatable cone right away to prevent your dog from licking or biting the wound.
2. Keep your dog as still as possible by gently restraining them with a towel, leash, or by laying them on their side. Keep your voice calm to help reassure your dog.
3. Use a soft muzzle if necessary. (Do NOT use a muzzle if your dog has difficulty breathing)
4. The next steps will vary depending on the case:

• If there is a small, unbarbed object (e.g. a small thorn) it can be removed with tweezers and subsequently flushed with saline solution. If there is NO further bleeding or large wound, bring your dog to veterinary urgent care for further evaluation.
• If there are larger, barbed, or unknown objects lodged into the wound, refrain from touching these without speaking to a vet. Call an emergency vet immediately while also reassuring your dog and keeping them still.
• In any scenario where there is profuse bleeding, call an emergency vet for in-clinic dog wound treatment, pain management, and complete evaluation.
• Any deep wound involving the chest area is a critical emergency that may require advanced oxygen cages or 24-hour support. In such cases, you can call us for referral to an appropriate animal hospital near Denver or Chicago; our team is available from 6 am to 10 pm (MST)

Dog Wound Treatment at Sploot Veterinary Care

Looking for dog wound treatment? Sploot Vets provides all-in-one vet care, including urgent care and emergency vet services. Our conveniently located Denver and Chicago vet clinics are open 365 days a year with extended vet clinic hours. 

Take the next step to getting prompt dog wound care by calling our team!