PetHealth

Learn the Proper Way to Clean a Cat’s or Dog’s Wound

“My dog got a cut. How do I clean the wound?”

“Is there a way to prevent infection in my dog’s wound?”

“How do I know if my dog needs stitches?”

“How do I get my dog to stop licking his wound?”

“My cat got in a fight! What should I do?”

No matter how careful you are as a pet owner, accidents can and do happen. So there’s a very good chance that someday, your pet will suffer a wound, cut, scrape, bite or other wound. It’s important that you, as a pet owner, know how to clean a pet’s wound in a way that minimizes chances of infection.

How to Clean a Wound on Your Pet - The Right Way!

Apply Pressure to Stop the Bleeding - Apply firm pressure to the wound with a clean paper towel to stop the bleeding. In the case of bite wounds, it’s best to allow these to bleed (providing blood loss is not excessive), as the blood will flush out bacteria. I’ll have more in tomorrow’s blog entry about treating bite wounds.

Remove the Fur - Begin by trimming or shaving the fur from around the wound. Clear a 1-inch diameter around the wound to allow for better visibility of the wound site and for better air flow, which will help prevent infection.

Flush the Wound - Next, flush the wound with water to remove debris and bacteria. Flush the wound with water for 2 full minutes. It may seem like a long time, but it’s exactly what you need to remove the debris and bacteria.

 Wash the Wound - Using an anti-bacterial soap like Dial, wash the wound site thoroughly. Rinse the wound thoroughly too.

Disinfect the Wound - Disinfect the wound by pouring a disinfecting solution into the wound. Betadine is preferred, but if you don’t have it on-hand, hydrogen peroxide is a good second choice. Hydrogen peroxide can damage tissue, preventing healing so you can only use this full strength on the first two cleanings.  After that, you need to dilute the hydrogen peroxide 50-50 with water or better yet, switch to betadine.

Wipe Up the Excess Betadine/Hydrogen Peroxide - You can use a clean paper towel or gauze pads (avoid towels - they harbor bacteria) to wipe up any drips. But you must not directly contact the hairless 1-inch perimeter around the wound. This area must remain sterile to prevent infection.

Apply Antibiotic Ointment - Apply a generous amount of antibiotic ointment to the wound to help prevent infection. You really only need this for a couple of days.

Leave the Wound Unbandaged - You should leave the wound uncovered. One exception is if the wound involves the foot, which is prone to contamination. The other exception is if there is a large flap of skin hanging - this will require stitches, but you should clean the wound before going to the vet and you’ll want to bandage the wound to hold the skin in place and to prevent tearing of the skin.

Repeat This Process Every 8-12 Hours - You must regularly clean the wound 2-3 times per day to prevent infection.

Does My Cat or Dog Need Stitches?

Generally speaking, if a pet’s wound is less than 1 inch in length, then stitches will not be necessary. Larger wounds typically do require stitches.

If there is a flap of skin that was created by the injury, this is a case where stitches may be likely. Bite wounds are almost never sutured due to the extremely high chance of infection in bite wounds - stitching a bite wound will trap bacteria inside.

In addition, if a wound is more than 8 to 12 hours old,  most veterinarians will not put in stitches. After 8-12 hours, the chance of infection and wound contamination rises dramatically, so old wounds will typically be left without stitches.

Other Tips for Treating a Pet’s Wound at Home

Many dogs and cats will lick their wounds. You need to prevent this, as this will increase the likelihood of infection. So purchase a “lampshade” for your pet, also known as an “Elizabethan Collar” or “e-collar.” They’re available at your veterinarian’s office and at most larger pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart.

Next time your dog or cat has a surgery, they may be sent home with a lampshade. Keep it! You never know when you may need it!

For more information on helping a pet with a wound, check out Bite Wound Treatments in Animals , along with How to Clean Bite Wounds and Does My Pet’s Wound Need Stitches?