Dog Wound Care & Healing Stages

Accidents happen and most of the time you will likely be able to manage caring for your dog at home. But when should you visit the vet? Here, our Lacey vets talk about the different types of wounds and stages of healing and share some important information about dog wound care.

Healing Dog Wounds

Even if your dog doesn't get into mischief, accidents are still possible, and with accidents come injuries and wounds. However, even minor wounds can cause serious infections, so if you are unsure whether you should take your dog to the vet, it is always best to err on the side of caution. If the wound cannot be managed with basic first aid then you should bring them straight to your primary care vet or nearest emergency veterinary hospital.

When should you bring your dog to the vet?

As mentioned above, wounds requiring basic care can usually be managed fine by pet parents but other wounds should receive veterinary attention. Wounds that require veterinary care include:

• Animal bites (these may look small but become infected very very quickly if not treated)
• Skin that has been torn away from the flesh below (often occurs during dog fights)
• A wound with a large object lodged in it (ie: a piece of glass or nail)
• Wounds caused by a car accident or other trauma
• Injuries around the eyes, head or that lead to breathing difficulties

What to Keep in Your Doggy First-Aid Kit

Having a pet first aid kit on hand, and a little know-how can be helpful if your dog has a minor injury. Below are a few things you should always have on hand in case your dog gets hurt.

How to Care For a Dog Wound

Cleaning an open wound is crucial to preventing serious complications such as infections. Before beginning first aid on your dog, it is best to have someone to help you restain your pup and be generally supportive.

If you are unsure what to do or whether your pet requires veterinary care, remember that it is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your animal's health. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian right away.

Muzzle Your Dog

Because a scared, anxious, or injured dog may bite while you are attempting to help, our team recommends muzzling your injured dog before beginning first aid treatment. It's a good idea to practice putting a muzzle on your dog before an injury occurs, so he's used to the process and how the muzzle feels. This will help to avoid aggravating your pup's distress.

Look For Foreign Objects

Look for objects or debris that may be lodged in the wound. This is especially important care if the wound is on your dog's paw pad and they may have stepped on something sharp. If you can easily remove the object with tweezers, do so gently. If the object is lodged deeply, leave it and call your vet, or an emergency animal hospital immediately.

Clean Your Dog's Wound

If the wound is on your dog's paw, you can rinse it in a clean bowl or bucket of warm water to remove any dirt and debris. If the wound is elsewhere on your dog's body, you can gently run clean water over the wound by placing your dog in a sink, bath, or shower. You could add a small amount of mild baby shampoo, dish soap, or hand soap to the water.

Do not use harsh cleaners or apply hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or other caustic cleaning products to your dog’s skin as these can be painful or even cause the wound to take longer to heal.

Stop the Bleeding

Apply pressure to the wound with a clean towel if nothing is stuck in it. While most minor wounds will stop bleeding within a few minutes, larger wounds will most likely take longer. Within 10 minutes of applying pressure, the bleeding should stop. If your dog is still bleeding after that, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately.

Bandage the Wound

If you have antibacterial ointment on hand, apply a small amount to the wound before covering it with sterile gauze or another bandage. Products containing hydrocortisone or other corticosteroids should be avoided. To keep the gauze in place, use a self-adhesive elastic bandage.

Prevent Your Dog From Licking

If your pooch is trying to lick the wound it may be necessary to have your dog wear an e-collar (Elizabethan collar).

What are the stages of dog wound healing?

There are four stages that your dog's wound will go through as it heals. They are:

• Inflammation: The body slows blood flow and activates the immune system.
• Debridement: Clean up, including removing dead cells and killing any bacteria.
• Repair: Cells are building and repairing the damage using collagen.
• Maturation: Collagen is reorganized and water is reabsorbed while the scar tissue forms.

If you would like more detailed insight into what to expect during each stage you could search the internet for 'dog wound healing stages pictures'.

Cold Laser Therapy for Wound Healing

Cold laser therapy (also referred to as low-level laser therapy or Class IV laser therapy) uses focused light to increase blood circulation and stimulate the regeneration of cells.

What are the benefits of cold laser therapy for wound healing?

Veterinary cold laser therapy has been effectively used to treat diseases, injuries, and conditions such as tissue injuries (including strains and sprains) and arthritis.

It is often used to supplement other treatment options to give our pet patients an improved outcome.

As for benefits, laser therapy can

• Enhance circulation
• Decrease nerve sensitivity
• Reduce pain and swelling
• Speed the healing process

When to Visit an Emergency Veterinarian

You should be checking the wound twice a day to look for signs of infection and to ensure that it is healing well. Clean the wound twice a day with water or a pet-safe antiseptic solution, and contact your primary care veterinarian immediately if the wound becomes inflamed or shows signs of infection.

If you notice increasing redness, swelling, discharge, increasing pain in the area of the wound, or a bad odor coming from the wound, contact our emergency animal hospital in Lacey.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.