Cleaning A Pet's Wound
Tips to Avoid Infection in a Pet’s Cut, Bite or Gash
Proper care of a pet's wound can mean the difference between a quick recovery and a painful infection. Learn how to clean, disinfect and dress a pet's injury site.
Caring for a wounded animal can be a nerve-wracking, frightening experience, but a bit of know-how can go a long way toward healing your pet and preventing unnecessary pain and systemic illness.
“The key to healing a wound is preventing infection. Irrigating and disinfecting the injury site is the most vital element of care for a cut, bite or gash,” explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM. He added, “Most wounds smaller than one-half of an inch will heal on their own, without stitches. Avoiding infection is key.”
Bite wounds in particular are prone to developing infection, due to the massive amounts of bacteria that are transferred from the mouth and essentially injected under the skin.
Following these tips will greatly reduce the risk of infection. In the case of an infection that already exists, proper care can prevent the infection from advancing until the pet can be examined by a veterinarian.
• First, trim or shave the area surrounding the wound to avoid contamination and to ensure proper airflow. The wound edges should be exposed and clearly visible. Ideally, here should be a half-inch diameter of hair-free skin surrounding the wound.
• Irrigating and washing the wound will remove bacteria and debris from the site. Use an anti-bacterial soap, like Dial, to gently wash the wound site and surrounding tissue. Then, allow warm water to flow over and into the wound for a period of two full minutes. This should be done immediately following the injury and three times daily until the site is healed.
• Following irrigation, pat the wound dry using a sterile gauze pad. A clean paper towel can be utilized to dry the surrounding area. Avoid using towels, as this can simply transfer additional bacteria to the clean wound site.
• Disinfecting the wound should be performed with betadine iodine, an orange liquid antiseptic located in the first-aid section of the drug store. Betadine is very effective in killing bacteria, but without the sting of alcohol, and without the tissue damage that results from hydrogen peroxide. Pour the betadine over the wound and allow the site to air-dry. Wipe up any drips outside a half-inch diameter of the wound using a sterile gauze pad.
• Once the wound is disinfected, dab triple antibiotic ointment or Neosporin (avoid pain-free formulas) into the wound. This is really only necessary for the couple days following the injury, or if the injury is located at a site that’s likely to be contaminated, like the paw.
• Leave the injury uncovered when possible, as bandages inhibit airflow, therefore promoting the growth of bacteria. If the wound is located on the foot or another location where contamination is likely, wrap one or two layers of breathable rolled gauze over the site. Rolled gauze should also be used to temporarily pull together the edges of a larger wound that’s in need of stitches.
• Oral antibiotics are needed in the case of many facial injuries, particularly those located near the eye, where soap and antiseptics cannot be used. Instead, utilize a wound wash saline, available in the first-aid section of the drug store.
• Elizabethan collars or “lampshades,” available at pet supply stores, can be helpful to prevent the dog from licking the site.
“Remember, a wound should be looking better with time. Photographing the wound can help, as it can be difficult to notice gradual changes when relying on memory. If the wound is worsening or growing larger, it’s time for the vet,” Dr. Levine added.
Signs of infection include redness, inflammation, swelling and pain.
