What antibiotic to give a dog with a laceration. How to provide first aid and treat cuts in dogs? How to treat a lacerated, weeping wound

A wound in a dog is a common occurrence, because they are by nature very active animals. They are always interested in everything, they often get into dog fights. Even if your dog is well-mannered and calm, on a walk he can become a victim of homeless brothers, who, unfortunately, still run in packs along our streets.

Lovers of these animals should always be ready for such an opportunity. In which case, do not panic, but be able to provide first aid, know how to proceed, and be patient. After all, the treatment of dog wounds always involves considerable endurance from both the pet itself and its owner.

What is a dog wound

In order to provide emergency assistance and to develop subsequent actions for the treatment of a pet, each owner must be able to assess the nature of the wound, its size, the depth of the lesion, the presence of bleeding and its intensity. The main types of injuries are:

Abrasions (scratches), splinters - damaging the upper layer of the skin, provoking a slight inflammatory process on it and barely noticeable bleeding, bruising. This can happen for any reason: from the inept handling of the leash by the owner himself to the dog touching various objects and plants, active scratching, etc. Such injuries are simple and do not require a visit to a veterinary clinic, but are treated at home;

Lacerations, this also includes cuts - the result of a deeper damage to the skin of the animal. The reasons for this may be different, and the cut itself is even, clean and shallow or deep, when the edges do not have a clear outline (torn) and all layers of the skin are affected, up to the muscle tissue;

Stab wounds and bites are dangerous due to the possibility of rapid bacterial damage. These wounds, especially small ones, are difficult to immediately calculate, and if therapeutic and disinfecting measures are not taken in time, they quickly become inflamed and cause suppuration. Such purulent wounds in dogs require immediate treatment;

Injuries are the most complex and life-threatening injuries. Occur due to beatings, accidents, accidents.

When to see the vet

Home treatment for all types of injuries is indicated only when the animal has received a superficial injury that does not pose a threat to his life. In other cases, it is necessary to show the pet to the veterinarian. This should not be neglected if:

this is a bite - the animal that caused such an injury may be sick, in particular with rabies, which is dangerous not only for the life of the pet itself, but also for members of the whole family;
the dog's wounds do not heal - only a specialist can determine the reason for this;
the animal is badly injured - any delay in this case can cost him his life;
heavy bleeding, especially which cannot be restored;
an extensive head wound, a fracture, or other cases requiring special therapies or the use of potent drugs.

First aid

When a dog is injured, it involves certain measures on the part of its owner:

First, treat the wound with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, furacilin or chlorhexidine. In the absence of these funds in the home first-aid kit, you can use clean running water.
Shave or trim the hairs around the wound.
Lubricate the area around the wound well with iodine or Monklavit-1 (a modern preparation for disinfection based on iodine).
Try to stop the bleeding with a homeostatic dressing and tight bandaging.

After these actions, it is desirable without the slightest delay, even with a seemingly trifling wound, it is necessary to show the animal to the veterinarian. After all, poor-quality processing or incorrect actions of the owner of a four-legged pet can lead to various complications. And with bleeding, any delay can even cost his life.

How are animal wounds treated?

The main health hazard is lacerations in dogs. Usually such a lesion does not heal quickly, often has undesirable consequences. The treatment of such a pathology, as a rule, requires prompt measures, because without this, pus and tissue particles quickly accumulate in the wound, which are semi-decomposed, and a purulent wound is already formed in dogs.

It is generally accepted that with this type of injury, one should not worry only when it is insignificant (no more than 2 long, 1 cm deep). More serious cases always require immediate medical attention. It is especially required when the pet's wound begins to fester. At home, the affected area should be treated with hydrogen peroxide, pre-cut the hair, remove pus and dirt. And then the action is up to the experts.

Drainage will be installed in the animal clinic to help remove purulent discharge, which is not removed until the wound is completely cleaned and the inflammatory process stops. Always used in the form of injections of an antibiotic for dogs with purulent wounds. It can be Biomycin, Terramycin, Gramicidin, etc. Along the way, napkins soaked in a solution that promotes exudate discharge are applied to the wounded area.
If the wound is serious enough, then it is sewn up, but treatment is also prescribed. As a rule, antibiotics are used, which have a wide range of effects, and in high doses.

It happens that hormonal drugs are also prescribed, although in the treatment of complex lesions, when the treatment period is 2-3 weeks, such an appointment is not recommended. But vitamin complexes will be in place here. After all, with their help, you can improve metabolism, accelerate the production of leukocytes, strengthen the defenses of the animal's body. Often, tampons with Vishnevsky's balm are applied to such wounds.

Preparations for the treatment of wounds

In any home first aid kit, you should always have Chlorhexidine, Levomekol ointment, Ranosan and other wound healing ointments, bandages, and wipes. If you are taking your pet with you on a long trip or hunting, you should have the necessary preparations with you. You can always provide the necessary assistance in such unforeseen cases.

Other medicines and remedies will be prescribed by the attending veterinarian, based on a specific case. Of the antiseptics, these can be: Ranosan, Septogel, Xidicol-spray, Aluminum-spray, Septonex. All of them have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. It is good to use streptocide powder for wound healing.

Complications and risks

This is always discussed in severe defeats, when, as they say, minutes count. And the life of a pet is determined by how extensive the lesion is and how soon the owner can deliver it to the clinic. This is especially important when a lot of blood is lost, which usually happens with large wounds. Blood transfusions in canine clinics are almost never done due to the lack of blood supplies.

But this, however, is not so scary. Operations, if carried out on time, are mostly successful, the animal recovers in 2-3 weeks (with a rehabilitation period, the recovery time is extended). It happens that you have to mess around with your pet for six months.

Immediately after stitching, the dog can be taken home (in the clinic, he can be left for 2-3 days only in especially severe cases). The owner will need to make a daily inspection of the seam, so as not to lose sight of the appearance of the first signs of its redness, suppuration, swelling. And at least once every 7 days, it is important to show the pet to the treating veterinarian.

Summing up

Complications and risks when a dog is injured can always be eliminated if everything is done correctly, seek veterinary care in time and carefully follow the recommendations for treatment. Your dog's injury can happen suddenly. Therefore, you should always be prepared for such an event. The main thing is not to get confused, but to quickly assess the nature of the injury and provide first aid. With a serious injury, veterinary intervention is inevitable. Always remember that the life and health of your pet is completely in your hands!

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Dogs are less "domestic" creatures when compared to cats. As a rule, only dogs of dwarf, “pocket” sizes can be kept exclusively in the apartment without getting out, while other pets have to be walked. In the countryside, the dog tirelessly and constantly accompanies the owners on long trips to nature.

Because of this, any experienced lover has considerable experience in treating various abrasions, cuts, and other injuries that an active pet inevitably receives. But it is much worse if the latter has a lacerated wound: in a dog (in general, like in a person), such injuries heal for a long time and often lead to serious consequences, up to gangrene and sepsis.

As it is easy to guess such wounds appear when the tissues of the body are torn under the influence of strong mechanical influences. In service dogs, for example, these injuries are often the result of the dog being “strung” on barbed wire or nails (carelessly processed projectiles in “dog towns”) during training. Unlike a cut with smooth edges, the gap is characterized "Jagged", uneven wound channels, abundantly powdered with wool, sawdust, and other garbage. Of course, in such cases, a huge amount of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microflora is found in the wound. The duration and severity of the course of the rehabilitation period largely depends on the depth and extent of the lesion.

Usually, similar wounds always an indication for surgery, because without surgery, purulent exudate and semi-decomposed pieces of tissue begin to accumulate very quickly in the wound channel. Only small lacerations of the skin that do not affect the muscle layer can be subjected to simple treatment without the subsequent introduction of drainage and suturing. It is believed that "little blood" can be dispensed with only with wounds whose length does not exceed 2 cm and depth - 1 cm. In other cases, it is strongly recommended to immediately contact a veterinarian.

Diagnostic procedures

Preoperative tests depend in part on the age and general health of the animal, as well as the cause of the injury. In the case when it was caused by the action of something sharp (nail, wire, piece of metal), you can only get by. If the rupture is associated with extensive trauma, x-rays, blood tests, serological and biochemical tests, urine tests may be required. An EKG may be required.

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The latter is true in cases where the animal (against the background of post-traumatic shock) shows signs heart failure. It should be noted that in cases where the affected pet has problems with the liver, kidneys, lungs or heart, it is strictly forbidden to perform an operation (especially under general anesthesia) until its condition is completely stabilized!

By the way, in what cases is anesthesia necessary, and in which only local anesthesia? If the case is mild (a small laceration on the paw), then strong anesthesia may not be required to sew it up at all. The pet is simply fixed in the machine, and the damaged area is subjected to infiltration anesthesia. But this, of course, does not apply to particularly large and/or aggressive dogs. Sometimes only a local anesthetic is used.

In case of severe injuries and provided that the animal is restless, in a state of shock, it is recommended to use general anesthesia. As a rule, the latter is given through the introduction of appropriate drugs intravenously.

Surgical technique

First, the hairline surrounding the wound canal is carefully cut off. This must be done very carefully in order to prevent tissue “littering” and their additional contamination with microflora. The area is scrubbed with surgical soap and disinfectants to remove bacterial "plaque" and normal debris. Areas of dead and torn skin must be cut off. To ensure unhindered closure of the wound with a suture, the edges of the canal are carefully trimmed, and the “extra” sections are cut off. If everything was done correctly, healing subsequently occurs by primary intention, the amount of purulent and / or ichorous exudate released in this case is minimized.

Close the wound with either sutures or staples of a surgical stapler. It is worth noting that the suture materials may subsequently dissolve on their own, or the sutures must be removed after the final healing of the injury.

The first option is much more preferable, since in this case the owner does not have to additionally take his pet to the veterinarian. In addition, not all breeders have enough skill and experience to remove stitches on their own (however, experts do not prohibit doing this). Staples, in any case, should be removed exclusively in a clinic, since this is not easy to do, and an ordinary breeder simply cannot cope with this.

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How long does an operation to stitch a lacerated wound take? The procedure takes approximately 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the individual case. Small wounds, as it is easy to understand, are closed in a few minutes. Here you need to understand that large injuries with a gaping wound channel it is impossible to completely “repair” in one operation. In severe cases, up to ten (!) surgical interventions may be required!

Other therapeutic methods

It would be somewhat naive to think that it is enough to sew up a serious wound. Treatment is usually much more serious. Since in all these cases the wound channel is inevitably exposed to bacterial contamination, the animal is prescribed antibiotics wide spectrum of action in loading doses.

Sometimes (at the discretion of the veterinarian) anti-inflammatory corticosteroids may be prescribed. But when treating very severe wounds, when the rehabilitation period can stretch for several weeks, this is contraindicated: with prolonged use, these drugs provoke the development of fungal infections, so it's not worth the risk. In addition, to improve and accelerate the regeneration process, it is useful to prescribe multivitamin complexes. They improve metabolism, accelerate the production of leukocytes, strengthening the defenses of the dog's body. In addition, bandages and tampons impregnated with Vishnevsky's balsamic liniment can be applied to the wounds themselves (and torn ones, even more so).

Important! If you do not know how to treat a wound received by your pet, you can use streptocide powder for this purpose. It perfectly disinfects the wound surface and prevents the development of purulent inflammation in the future.

Also, if the wound is from a fight with another dog or other animal, rabies vaccines (i.e. anti-rabies drugs) may be required. This is especially true for hunting dogs that may encounter rabid foxes. But! This applies only to those dogs that have not been vaccinated against rabies on time. Alas, this also happens. In this case, all costs associated with obtaining vaccines and sera are borne by the owner of the animal.

Possible risks and complications

In a young and physically strong dog, the risks associated with surgery and anesthesia are minimal. But everything is not so clear. A lacerated ear wound repaired with a couple of surgical stitches is one thing. But if you have to sew a paw torn into the trash, with pieces of ligaments and muscles sticking out of the wound canal, the situation is completely different. In this case, everything depends on the luck of the dog and the time during which the owners managed to deliver it to the veterinarian. In addition, with significant blood loss (and with such wounds it will always be so), it may be necessary to transfusion of blood or plasma, but only a few veterinary clinics can do this. There is simply no pet blood bank in our country. As a rule, up to 70% of such operations are still quite successful, the animal recovers completely in two to three weeks (not counting the rehabilitation period).

If possible, do not self-medicate and consult a doctor. But if this is not possible, then it is necessary to understand the basic principles of treatment.

Treating dog wounds at home

Initially, it is necessary to cut the hair around the wound. Various discharges and pus will come out of the wound, the hair will stick together, and if it is not cut off, additional problems will appear. Dermatitis and some other complications may appear. In addition, it will be easier for you to care for the wound. For cutting, use ordinary scissors, they can be boiled or treated with alcohol. After that, you need to take 3% hydrogen peroxide, draw up a syringe and insert it into the wound without a needle. It will be unpleasant for the dog, but this procedure is very important to do.

After washing out the contents from the dog's wound, a large amount of foam may appear - this is the result of the reaction of the interaction of peroxide and dying tissues. You must be ready for this. Then you need to take a bandage, a gauze napkin and remove excess liquid by pressing it against the wound. After that, you need to take levomekol and inject it with a syringe, without a needle. It is sold in any ordinary pharmacy. Such treatments should be done at least twice a day. If a lot of fluid comes out of the dog's wound, you can treat the wound in this way in the first days three times a day. But this rarely happens, usually twice is enough.

How not to treat dog wounds.

No need to fill the wound with vodka, iodine, alcohol, brilliant green, that is, all the folk remedies that people like to use. You will not kill all microorganisms, but you can do harm. You will burn the tissues and they will take a very long time to grow back. No need to sew up a fresh wound, especially a purulent one. To sew up a purulent wound, you must first treat it surgically - remove dead tissue and then leave it so that all outflows from the wound come out. But if there is no experience, it is better not to sew up, so as not to damage the dog.

Then pay attention to the condition of the dog. If there is oppression, fever, putrid smell from the wound, then you need to at least find a doctor who can apply antibiotics.

In the best case, you need to take the dog and deliver it to the doctor, because all this affects the body as a whole.

All dogs, regardless of breed, are usually very active animals. In addition to banal scratches and cuts, there are risks of serious injuries during training and fights among themselves. What is the owner to do? Minor injuries and abrasions can be treated independently - you just need to know what and how. But serious lacerations should be entrusted to a veterinarian, because. in most cases, such injuries require stitches and special care after.

Classification of possible wounds and the actions of the owner when they are detected

The most common in dogs are:

abrasions, scratches, scratches (most often on the back and legs);
incised wounds (have smooth edges);
bite wounds (bite marks are clearly visible - rounded lesions in accordance with the bite of the teeth with signs of a slight tear);
lacerated wounds (have uneven, fringed edges).

Any open wound is accompanied by bleeding:

capillary - blood seeps over the entire surface of the abrasion (scratch) in small droplets;
venous - the blood is dark, flows out in a uniform stream;
arterial - a bright scarlet pulsating or fountaining stream of blood.

Capillary bleeding can be easily stopped at home without much effort.

In case of venous and arterial bleeding, the dog should be urgently and as soon as possible delivered to the veterinarian, after applying a pre-pressure bandage. You won’t be able to stop them on your own, because. the situation will require the imposition of vascular sutures.

First aid for a pet:

Assess the nature of the wound, how large it is, is there any bleeding and what kind? It is possible to start processing the damaged surface if it is insignificant and only with capillary bleeding. Wounds up to 2-3 cm long and not more than 1 cm deep are considered not dangerous and easy to heal with proper assistance. In all other cases, self-medication can lead to complications.
Trim the hair around the damage (or shave with a clipper if possible). If this is not possible, try to carefully spread the wool in order to gain access to the wound surface and have a good look at everything.
Rinse the damaged area with any antiseptic (chlorhexidine, furatsilin, rivanol or hydrogen peroxide 3%) or plain running water if there are no antiseptic solutions at hand. With each subsequent wash, it is important to remove purulent crusts, dirt, any foreign bodies that cling to ointments or a fluid (exudate) released during the healing process.
Capillary bleeding is well stopped by hydrogen peroxide and / or powdered (powder) wound healing powders.
You can treat the wound after washing: iodine, brilliant green, “sealing” spray, powdery wound healing powder or ointment / cream (one remedy to choose from).
If severe bleeding is detected, a tight, pressure bandage should be arranged with a bandage or any other available means and the pet should be taken to a specialist. Untimely qualified assistance can cost the life of a pet against the background of heavy blood loss.
If an old festering wound or abscess (hot seal at the site of a bite or other type of injury) is found, this is a direct path to the veterinarian.
Lacerations (deep) wounds, even in the absence of heavy bleeding, must be sewn up, so the dog must be taken to the clinic.
The basic rule for the treatment of any wounds: wet - dry, dry - wet. Those. drying wounds are well treated with ointments and liquid forms of medicines, wet wounds are better with sprays or powders.

Advice: even if at first glance the wound seems insignificant, after the initial treatment, the dog should be shown to the veterinarian. It is better to get the approval of a specialist that everything is done correctly than to receive complications from incorrectly rendered care in the form of suppuration, abscesses, longer healing and sepsis.

What does a veterinarian do

Depending on the complexity of the wound process, the veterinarian performs treatment according to all the rules of asepsis and antisepsis, and, if necessary, sutures the wound. They can be superimposed not only on the skin, but also on deep muscle layers, as well as on bleeding vessels.
Suturing usually requires anesthesia. Depending on the temperament of the animal, the general state of health and the complexity of the potential operation, it can be either local anesthesia or general anesthesia. The sutures are applied with different suture material, depending on the wound in each case, so some sutures will need to be removed after 10-14 days, and some will dissolve on their own.
The wound is never sutured tightly. A hole is always left through which the inflammatory exudate will drain, which should not stagnate.
With purulent wounds and the risk of sepsis, a course of antibiotic therapy is mandatory.
The dressing is applied at the discretion of the veterinarian, taking into account what kind of wound it is, its complexity and where it is located.
If there was extensive blood loss during the injury, then already during the operation or immediately after, replacement droppers are placed to make up for the lack of plasma blood in the body.
With the right approach, wound healing occurs in 7-14 days. In the event of complications, the process may be somewhat delayed. Often, skin grafting may be necessary for healing (when the surface is huge and the body simply does not have enough of its regenerative (restorative) forces), then treatments alone are not enough.

List of drugs for the treatment of wounds in dogs

The list of antiseptic and healing agents that can be used to treat a dog is huge. Here is a list of the most commonly used drugs:

Primary treatment of wounds, washing, washing abscesses

Any of the funds is directly poured onto the surface, sprayed in a spray or injected into the abscess cavity to wash out the inflammatory-purulent exudate. The funds are quite cheap, allow you to use them in large volumes.

Hydrogen peroxide 3%

(7-10 rubles/100 ml)

Chlorhexidine

(about 20 rubles/100 ml)

Furacilin

(about 100 rubles / 10 tablets)

Absolutely all powders / powders have an excellent antiseptic, wound healing and suction effect. It is good to use them in deep, weeping wounds where there is a cavity pocket. Often fall asleep wounds that are sutured. The wound cavity is filled up abundantly and tightly with any of these means and the outflow of the resulting exudate is controlled. The procedure is carried out 1-2 times per day until complete drying or according to the instructions for each drug. Then they usually switch to ointments.

Powder "Iodoform" (75-105 rubles / 10 g)	Powder powder Edis (150 rubles/200 g)	Gentaxan Powder (170-210 rubles / 2 g)

Powder Baneocin (up to 400 rubles/10 g)	Xeroform (about 100 rubles / 10 g)
Wound healing, antimicrobial and analgesic ointments / creams are used in dried wounds or shallow weeping They perfectly stimulate granulation (the formation of connective tissue - the tissue that forms scars). Some of them have an analgesic component in their composition (Oflomelit, Levosin, Fastin, Ranosan). May cause salivation due to licking by animals, as bitter. All preparations are applied in a thin layer, slightly rubbing. Surplus is better to get wet with a napkin, because. from body temperature melt, strongly spreading beyond the wound.

Levomekol (about 120 rubles / 40 g)	Oflomelide (130-155 rubles / 50 g)	(80-100 rubles/40 g)

(50-85 rubles / 25 g)	(about 70 rubles / 10 g)

Rivanol

0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% solutions are used for washing wounds, as well as in the form of a powder powder or ointment. Do not use on extensive lesions if the dog has kidney problems.

Iodine solution

(17-25 rubles/25 ml)

It is good to treat places with iodine after removing ticks and abrasions / scratches. Open wounds are best treated only at the edges. Do not lubricate with iodine too extensive wound areas, because. a dog (especially a small one) can experience iodine poisoning. May cause burning and local irritation, which does not require cancellation for use.

Brilliant green solution (brilliant green)

(40-74 rubles/15 ml)

The most versatile remedy for the treatment of wounds, abrasions, postoperative sutures, etc. It has a pronounced antiseptic and drying effect.

Aluminumspray

(about 300 rubles/100 ml)

Suitable for the treatment of any wounds in animals. It is especially good to use on postoperative sutures. It has not only an antiseptic effect, but also enveloping. Spraying is carried out at a distance of 15-20 cm above the wound for 1-2 seconds. Usually once a day for 7-10 days is sufficient. It has no contraindications or side effects.

Chemi spray

(380-500 rubles/200 ml)

An agent with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It has a detrimental effect on fungi of the genus Candida. Non-irritating but very strong odor - best used outdoors. It is important to toilet the wound before spraying: remove pus, crusts, dirt, necrotic areas, etc. Apply up to 3 times a day, the duration of application usually does not exceed 10 days.

Vetericin

(1100-1300 rubles / 118 ml)

A very powerful all-purpose antimicrobial-healing agent for every kind of wound in dogs that can be. Apply 3-4 times a day - or simply spray on the surface or under the bandage (apply a moistened damp cloth, bag and bandage on top). There are no restrictions on the days for use - until healing.

Question answer

Question:
Are antibiotics given to dogs for wounds?

Yes, very often, with deep and / or chronic (purulent) wounds, a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed. Antibiotics are almost always needed after suturing.

Question:
How to treat a wound after a tick?

The place where the tick was taken from is sufficiently abundant (but not extensive, namely at the site of the bite) to treat with iodine tincture. Even if parts of the body of an insect remain there, they will be “expelled” from the wound, like splinters, in a natural way.

Question:
If the dog licks his wounds?

Do not let the dog lick the affected area, because. with her tongue, she can damage the tissues around her and increase the area of the wound surface. For large, deep and postoperative wounds, it is better to apply bandages.

Question:
Dog has an ear injury

If the injury in the middle of the auricle is not deep, then the treatment is performed as an ordinary abrasion. In case of ruptures of the auricle (perforation or torn edge), only a specialist can help by suturing. If desired, cosmetic sutures can be applied so that in the future no scars can be seen at the site of the wound (this may be necessary for exhibition dogs).

Question:
If a dog's wound does not heal for a long time?

Perhaps an error was made at the time of processing and / or something was not done in good faith. Wounds that do not heal for a long time dissolve healthy surrounding skin tissues, thereby increasing the area of the injured surface. A four-legged pet must be shown to the doctor so that he can revise the wound and re-treat from the very beginning (cleaning, washing, applying wound healing solutions, ointments, powders, etc.).

Question:
What to do if there is a wound on the paw of a dog?

It all depends on where the damage is found on the paw. It is difficult to treat injuries on the folds, as well as in those places where external influence is constantly exerted (for example, an animal constantly steps on this place). The most important condition for rapid healing is rest. If it is impossible to provide peace to the wound, you need to be prepared that it will take a little longer to heal than usual. Also, dressings are almost always applied to such wounds, and ointments / creams are applied under them.

Question:
Purulent wound in a dog

The presence of pus indicates that bacteria have joined the inflammatory process. Reasons: incorrect processing, ignoring on the principle of "it will pass by itself" or the formation of an abscess. With purulent wounds, it is always worth taking your pet to the veterinarian, because. already simple washings and treatments will not be enough - you need qualified cleaning of the wound cavity / surface, antibiotic therapy and proper care after.

Question:
How to treat a wound in a dog?

If the injury is not deep and is not accompanied by active bleeding (venous or arterial), then there is only one approach: washing with water or antiseptic liquids and treating with a wound healing component (powder, spray, ointment / cream). The main thing is to observe the basic principle of wound healing: wet - dry, dry - wet. This means that weeping places are best treated with brilliant green or powders, and those that dry out are best treated with ointments.

On the dog's body, wounds can appear for a variety of reasons, for example, as a result of contact with dry grass, branches of bushes and trees, and plant thorns. A piece of glass or other sharp objects can also damage the skin. Many animals end up under the wheels of vehicles, which leads to more serious consequences than scratches and small open wounds. To determine how to treat a wound in a dog, you need to examine it and assess the severity of the wounds received.

If for one reason or another the animal has received rather severe injuries (it is not possible to stop the bleeding on its own, large lacerations that must be sewn up), then you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian in order to avoid dangerous consequences.

Depending on the characteristics of the object causing injury, wounds are classified into nine types.

Table 1. Types of wounds in dogs

Type of wound	Description
Scratches with abrasions	They arise as a result of how the dog touches one or another object or plant, trying to vigorously scratch a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe body. Some animals injure themselves by biting fleas or trying to get rid of tangles and pieces of matted hair.
cuts	Appear on the pet's body upon contact with various objects that have sharp edges. It happens, for example, that the tissues of the mouth are injured by the broken ends of the gnawed bones
Severe bites from other animals	Wounds of this nature are most often subjected to inflamed processes. This is due to the fact that from the very beginning the surface of the damaged area of the body is contaminated with substances released from the mouth of the aggressor.
splinters	These foreign particles usually get into the paw when the dog runs outside. However, sometimes they have to be removed even from the tissues of the cheeks or tongue, because these pets love to gnaw on wooden pieces of furniture.
Injuries resulting from an accident	According to experts, it is in these cases that animals receive the most complex injuries, which may even be incompatible with life.
stab wounds	Damage occurs due to contact with a sharp object that can pass through living tissue quite easily. Depending on the nature of the damaging product, the wound channels are smooth and rough.
Chopped wounds	They are a type of damage, which is characterized by a serious destruction of sufficiently deep tissues, as well as damage to the walls of the lymphatic and blood vessels, and torn nerves. In many animals, joints and other bone elements are crushed.
bruised wounds	Occur after exposure to the dog's body with blunt objects. In this case, as a rule, reproduction and crushing occurs not only of the epidermis, but also of deeper muscles. In addition, there is a slight loss of blood
lacerations	Apply with a pointed object. For pets, they are dangerous by rupture of tendons and ligaments, as well as by the ingestion of various infections.

It happens that dogs get combined wounds. In addition, each injury is accompanied by the risk of infection. After all, dirt and dust, fluff with wool, rust and foreign bodies penetrate into the damaged skin along with a foreign object. Therefore, even a small wound must be treated with an antiseptic.

It should be noted that on your own at home it is worth treating only those wounds that are superficial and do not pose the slightest danger to the life of a pet.

How are superficial wounds treated in dogs?

If the animal received a shallow injury that did not touch the tissues, then the owner can independently treat the wound without seeking help from a specialist. This treatment procedure is carried out according to the following instructions:

Antiseptics for wound treatment

When a person discovers a wound in his pet, he may be confused and not immediately decide which antiseptic is best to use. Experienced veterinarians advise pet owners to have a first aid kit that will always have a sufficient amount of hydrogen peroxide. This solution has a hemostatic effect and does not lead to burns of the injured area of the body.

Chlorhexidine is also often used to treat shallow wounds. It is not only convenient to apply, but also completely cleans the area from various contaminants and prevents pathogenic microorganisms from entering the wound.

For the purpose of antibacterial protection, Miramistin is also recommended - a solution that gently interacts with living tissues and does not cause burns to the skin and mucous membranes. Thanks to him, you can prevent infection of the animal's body with dangerous bacteria and viruses. Veterinarians use the medication to prevent purulent inflammation and activate regenerative processes.

One of the widely used drugs is "Furacilin". Its advantage over many other antiseptics is the absence of a specific odor and such a side effect as skin irritation. A solution prepared from tablets can also be used to wipe wounds in which a purulent process has begun.

For the treatment of superficial damage, despite the opinion of many people, it is not recommended to use brilliant green and iodine. Experts explain this by the fact that these solutions contain alcohol, which, if it comes into contact with living tissues, leads to burns. In addition, the substances strongly dry the skin and cause irritation.

Wound healing process in dogs

Shallow wounds of dogs begin to heal after purulent exudate forms on their surface and tissue granulation occurs around the wound channel. In addition, when wool, dirt and foreign particles get into the deep layers of tissues in the body of a pet, a process begins to occur that contributes to the formation of pus. Therefore, exudate is necessary to ensure a proteolytic action aimed at removing purulent matter from the wound canal.

If the wound is uncomplicated and has not been infected, it usually takes one to two weeks to heal. Overgrowth of surgical wounds also occurs according to the so-called primary intention.

In the case of animals receiving lacerations or injuries, accompanied by crushing of living tissues, the healing process is very slow, especially when infected. A similar phenomenon is due to the fact that the closure of the wound channel occurs by secondary intention. To avoid serious complications, you need to seek help from a veterinarian. He must perform an operation to excise the edges of the wound, due to which healing begins to proceed according to primary intention, which occurs much faster.

In the absence of proper treatment or its untimeliness, the wound becomes inflamed and begins to fester. Getting rid of this problem is much more difficult, in addition, blood poisoning can occur as a result.

Video - Treatment of wounds in dogs: veterinarian's guide

Features of the treatment of lacerated and weeping wounds in dogs

After damage is applied, regardless of its severity, various pathogenic microorganisms immediately accumulate on the surface of the skin around the wound. If the injury is torn and touched the deep layers of the tissue, then after a couple of days the dog has a progressive inflammatory process.

An equally common cause that leads to inflammation is non-compliance with asepsis rules or the use of inappropriate antiseptic agents in violation of the integrity of the skin and soft tissues. In this case, exudate is released from the wound channel, containing blood plasma and lymph, as well as leukocytes, lymphocytes and other products of the inflammatory process. This substance is a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms. As a result, the formation of a weeping injury is observed. The wound gives off a specific odor. Many owners note apathy and depression in their pet.

Carrying out therapy in such a situation consists in the careful removal of the entire exudate and the crusts formed on the surface of the damaged area. After that, it is necessary to treat the place with a disinfectant. If the dog has severe itching of the skin and pain, then you should consult a veterinarian who will recommend the most appropriate analgesics and antihistamines. Usually "Tavegin" or "Suprastin" is prescribed, the active substances of which slow down the synthesis of histamine-like substances, thereby reducing the amount of exudate that accumulates inside the wound.

To eliminate pathogenic microflora, it is required to cover the affected area with ointments that have an antibacterial effect. Effective are "Vishnevskaya ointment", "Tetracycline ointment", and "Levomikol". In severe cases, the animal is additionally given broad-spectrum antibiotics.

In addition to ointments and antibiotics, special sprays that can be found in veterinary pharmacies contribute to wound healing. Below are some brands of such drugs.

Often, purulent processes begin to develop in the wound channel, which are accompanied by the formation of exudate and the manifestation of characteristic symptoms:

A sharp increase in body temperature;
Apathy;
Weakness;
Lack of appetite.

To eliminate undesirable consequences, the veterinarian must select suitable antibacterial medications that will help to quickly cope with inflammation and suppuration of the damage. Effective and widely used drugs are:

Cephalosporins - Cephalen, Cephalex, and Cefotaxime;
Penicillins - Sinulox, Ampicillin and Amoxicillin;
Tetracyclines - Doxycycline.

As a rule, the course of therapy lasts no longer than two weeks. It should be noted that it is forbidden to suture wounds complicated by infectious microflora.

What to do with open and deep wounds?

If a pet has received a deep wound, then, first of all, the surface must be washed and disinfected. Then antiseptic solutions are applied to the skin: Miramistin, Formalin or Chlorhexidine. However, you should not engage in further treatment on your own, it is better to consult a specialist to avoid any dangerous complications.

Features of nutrition of a dog after injury

After an injury that leads to the destruction of the integrity of the skin, soft tissues, bones, nerves, tendons, blood and lymphatic vessels, processes begin to occur in the animal's body aimed at stopping inflammation and regenerating the damage. Therefore, the dog quickly loses strength.

To restore them and support immunity, it is very important to provide your pet with good nutrition, with which all the necessary vitamins and useful trace elements will enter his body. In addition, it is necessary that he has constant access to clean water, because the wound is accompanied by blood loss, which requires the restoration of water balance.