Cleaning A Pet's Wound

Tips to Avoid Infection in a Pet’s Cut, Bite, Gash or Skin Infection

May 11, 2008

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 cat or dog can be a nerve-wracking, frightening experience, but a bit of know-how can go a long way toward healing your pet's injury and preventing unnecessary pain and systemic illness. Flushing and disinfecting the cat or dog's wound is key, as is closely monitoring the pet's injury site for signs of infection such as redness, inflammation and discharge.

“The key to healing a pet's wound is preventing infection. Irrigating and disinfecting the 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 cat or dog's skin.

Many canines are also prone to developing bumps and lumps that become infected. It's not uncommon to see cysts and pimples in dogs, especially on the face and chest/belly. Regular cleansing and disinfecting is key to promote healing.

Following these tips will greatly reduce the risk of infection. In the case of an infection that already exists, proper care can prevent the pet's infection from advancing until the animal can be examined by a veterinarian.

• First, trim or shave the area surrounding the dog or cat's wound to avoid contamination and to ensure proper airflow. The wound edges should be exposed and clearly visible. Ideally, there should be a half-inch diameter of hair-free skin surrounding the wound.

• Irrigating and washing the pet's wound will remove bacteria and debris from the injury site. Use an anti-bacterial soap, like Dial, to gently wash the skin wound 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 pet's injury and three times daily until the site is healed.

• Following wound irrigation, pat the cut, scrape, bite or gash 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 dog or cat's 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 animal's 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 injury site. 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 cat or dog's foot, paw pad 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 and bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

• Elizabethan collars, also known as "e-collars" or “lampshades,” are available at pet supply stores and from a veterinarian's office. These collars can be helpful to prevent the cat or dog from licking the injury 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.

The copyright of the article Cleaning A Pet's Wound in Pet Care is owned by Mia Carter. Permission to republish Cleaning A Pet's Wound in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.