WOUNDS/LACERATIONS

What Happens?

• Pet can get wounds or lacerations (cuts) for many reasons
• Dog/Cat bites
• Hit by car
• Barbed wire fences
• Paw pad injuries
• One of the biggest concerns with wounds is the potential for them to develop infection.
• Many wounds can be hidden by fur and can appear days later as discharge from infection

What Does It Look Like?

• Wounds can present as punctures, abrasions, or lacerations
• They can be superficial and only affect the outer layer of skin or they can be deep and be through the skin.
• If allowed to become infected, they can also have a purulent discharge (pus).

What Do You Do?

• The first step is to be safe and muzzle your pet to prevent unintentional biting due to pain.
• Next, it is important to shave the fur over the wounds and the surrounding area to assess the extent of the injuries
• Deep wounds that are through the skin and into the flesh need to be sutured by a veterinarian within 2 to 3 hours after the incident.
• Superficial wounds can be managed at home 
• There are two aspects of wound management
• Initial 
• Use betadine scrub to clean wound after shaving
• Hydrogen peroxide can be used, but betadine is better
• Once dried, apply antibiotic ointment
• Apply bandage if bleeding is present, but it is better to leave bandage off if possible and use medical collar to prevent licking
• Maintenance 
• Use a clean, wet washcloth to remove any discharge or debris
• Re-apply antibiotic ointment
• Change bandage if present
• Hydrotherapy (spraying wound with water from kitchen or bath sprayer for 10-15 min) can speed healing time significantly
• Do NOT apply hydrogen peroxide after initial use - it can actually slow down healing