Wound care for dogs and cats
Wound Care for Dogs and Cats
When your dog or cat has a wound, it means there is a break in the tissue continuity. Most wounds do not require treatment by a veterinarian. These are superficial wounds. You can treat these yourself; a step-by-step guide can be found in our article: applying a bandage to dogs. If the wound is open and deep, you should consult a veterinarian.
Treating Superficial Wounds
If your dog or cat has a small, shallow wound or scrape, cleaning the wound is sufficient. This can be done twice a day with a disinfecting and skin-care solution, ointment, or spray.
Treating Open Wounds
If your dog has a larger or deeper wound, you should contact the veterinarian. Do not touch the wound until you are sure whether it needs to be stitched or not. You can cover the wound with a sterile gauze pad and take your pet to the vet. If necessary, a bandage can also be applied. If the wound is bleeding heavily, apply a pressure bandage with a cotton wrap. There are two types of bleeding. Venous bleeding is recognized by a steady flow of dark red blood (this is not life-threatening). Bright red blood spurting indicates an artery has been hit, and immediate action is required. It is important to make a tourniquet above the wound, for example with a necktie. Tourniquets can only stay on for a limited time. After about 10 minutes, loosen the tourniquet slightly to allow blood flow again, preventing tissue death.
After treatment by the veterinarian, a protective bandage may be applied, which should be changed every three days. If the wound is old (6 to 8 hours), or tissue has been lost or infected, the wound cannot be closed immediately.
Your dog or cat should not lick the wound ‘clean,’ as this often causes further damage. A collar or bandage can prevent this.
