If you own a dog, you will notice that your pet will at one point or another get into some scrape that will leave him wounded. In some cases, dogs will simply start picking at their bodies and scratch and lick at it until the wound begins to develop. To prevent infections and facilitate healing in the wound, you should clean a dog’s wound through the following steps.
Remove the hair. Start by removing the hair around the wound. You can use a scissor to trim the hair, or some shaving tool. Removing the hair will allow you to focus on the dog’s wounds and will make it easier to keep the wound clean. Also, stray hair can get into the wound and further aggravate the situation.
Cleaning the wound. Once the hair has been removed, clean the wound by using soapy water and plenty of water. You can give the dog an entire bath while cleaning the wound, which will be more convenient for you and the dog. Besides, the length of the dog’s body is best cleaned as well since it will prevent dirt, bacteria, and infections from transferring into the wound.
Dry. After bathing the dog and cleaning the wound with warm and soapy water, you should dry the dog with a piece of clean towel. Some owners will use blow dryers to keep the dog’s fur dry. Make sure, however, that you do not focus the blow dryer directly on the wound, which can be very painful for the dog. Instead, use a towel and pat dry. Do not rub too vigorously either as it can hurt the dog as well.
Add antiseptic. To remove the bacteria that are already present in the wound, you should use some antiseptic. Alcohol should be avoided as much as possible since it is very painful and can make your dog bite you. Instead, purchase some hydrogen peroxide and use it to clean the wound. Add plenty of hydrogen peroxide until you notice that the wound has stopped bubbling. Use a cotton swab to apply the peroxide.
Add antibacterial ointment. Afterwards, purchase some antibacterial ointment that has been specifically designed for the dog. This is crucial to keep the bacteria out. The hydrogen peroxide will only kill the germs that are resent for as long as the solution is present. Once the peroxide dries out, bacteria can again enter the wound. The antibacterial ointment will prevent this. If the dog licks his wounds, you can apply Ecollor to prevent the dog from licking.
Apply as necessary. You should apply the anti bacterial ointment twice or thrice a day, or depending on the packaging in the ointment. Do this until the wound has fully healed and the dog no longer licks the wound. For very large dog wounds, you should also apply some dressing. Keep the dog inside the house so that you will be able to monitor his moves and keep him from removing the dressing.
Getting your dog on its way to recovery is easier when you know how to clean the dog’s wounds. Through this easy step, you should be able to do just that.