How do you treat a wound on a dog?

For a small, clean wound: rinse it generously with saline to remove soil and debris, cover it with a clean gauze pad and stop your dog licking it. Deep cleaning, clipping the fur and the decision to stitch are down to the vet. A deep or gaping wound, one that bleeds heavily, or a bite: off to the vet without delay.

My dog has cut its paw pad, what should I do?

Rinse the pad with saline, then press for a few minutes with a clean gauze pad. If it bleeds heavily, if it's deep, if your dog is clearly limping or a bit of claw is left, it's a vet visit: paw pads heal badly on their own and get infected fast. In the meantime, avoid long walks that reopen the cut.

How do I stop my dog licking its wound?

With a cone, a recovery suit or a dressing that covers the area. It isn't to annoy them: the saliva and rubbing from licking don't clean anything, they waterlog the skin and let infection in, and can create a red, weeping sore within hours. Introduce the cone calmly, pairing it with good things.

My dog has a wound bleeding a lot, how do I stop it?

Place a clean cloth or gauze pads on the wound and press firmly , without letting go to 'check': you'd break up the clot that's forming. If blood soaks through, add another layer on top without removing the first. Bleeding that spurts or won't stop is an emergency: call the vet and rush over.

Treating a minor wound on your dog

Health & preventionPart of · Health & prevention

Treating a minor wound on your dog

Q: Why is my dog's nose bleeding?

A nosebleed (epistaxis) isn't a simple surface wound to treat at home: causes range from a minor knock to a foreign body, a clotting disorder or a deeper injury. Keep your dog calm, don't push anything into the nostril and don't give any human medicine. You can hold a cool compress on the muzzle and call the vet, especially if it keeps happening or comes with other signs.

Q: Should I disinfect my dog's wound?

The most important thing is to rinse it well with saline to remove the dirt. A mild antiseptic made for dogs (diluted chlorhexidine, for instance) can be added, but steer clear of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and random human antiseptics, which irritate and damage the tissue. If you're unsure which product to use, ask your vet.

Q: My dog's wound is red and swollen, is it serious?

A wound that reddens, swells, feels hot, weeps or smells bad is getting infected: this is the moment to call the vet, not to try a home remedy. Don't put anything on raw flesh and keep the licking away while you wait for the appointment.

8 min read

A small clean graze can be treated at home: rinse it with saline solution, cover it with a clean dressing and stop your dog licking it. But a bite, a gaping wound, heavy bleeding or an embedded grass seed means a trip to the vet. Never probe inside the wound, and never try to close it yourself.

Why licking makes a wound worse

Your dog's instinct is to lick his wound. The trouble is that saliva and constant rubbing don't clean it: they leave the skin soggy, irritate it and infect it. A wound left to licking can turn, within hours, into a red weeping sore, a hot spot. Your job comes in three parts: clean it once, cover it, and keep the area safe from licking.

What to have to hand

You don't need much for most minor wounds.

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What to do, in order

The aim: clean and protect, never treat in depth in the vet's place.

Stay calm and reassure him

A dog in pain may nip, even at you. Speak softly, no sudden movements.

Rinse the wound with saline solution

Generously, to flush out soil, sand and debris.

Apply pressure if it's bleeding

With a clean cloth or dressings, press firmly for at least three minutes without letting go to "take a look": you'd break up the clot that is forming. If blood soaks through, add another layer on top without removing the first.

Cover with a clean dressing

Held in place with a cohesive bandage applied without tightening.

Protect from licking and keep an eye on it

A cone or a recovery suit (a soft bodysuit that covers the wound) if needed, and a look at the wound once or twice a day.

A small bite can hide serious damage: even a tiny one drives bacteria deep into the tissue and often turns into an abscess a few days later. Show any bite to the vet, don't wait to see if it settles.

Not all wounds are the same: some can be treated at home, others can't.

You can handle this at home, then keep watch

A clean, superficial grazeThe skin is barely broken and the dog is fine.

A small cut that quickly stops bleedingRinsing, covering and watching it is enough.

A barely nicked paw pad, with no limpingRinse it and cut back the walks that reopen the cut.

Off to the vet, without delay

Any bite, even a tiny punctureDeep damage and bacteria, with a risk of abscess.

A deep or gaping woundDeep cleaning and stitching are her job.

Bleeding that spurts or won't stopAn emergency: apply pressure and go.

A paw pad or claw bleeding heavily, dog limpingIt heals badly on its own and gets infected fast.

A grass seed or object lodged in the skin, eye, ear or noseRemoval by the vet, never by digging into the wound yourself.

A wound on or right next to the eye or eyelidA fragile area: a vet must always examine it.

A wound turning red, hot, swollen or weepingA sign of infection to get looked at.

A wound left several hours without being cleanedThe more time passes, the higher the risk of infection.

When in doubt, a trip to the vet "for nothing" always beats an infection found too late.

Palmer L. — Hemorrhage control: proper application of direct pressure, pressure dressings, and tourniquets, Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (2022)
Pet first aid: wounds and bite injuries, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Pyoderma in Dogs and Cats (surface pyoderma, including acute moist dermatitis), Merck Veterinary Manual

Going further

guideThe first aid kit for your dogEverything you need to have to hand to clean and cover a wound from the very first moments.Read the guide guideRecognising a life-threatening emergency in your dogTo tell the graze that heals on its own from the injury that needs the vet right now.Read the guide guideTeaching your dog to wear a muzzleTo clean a sore spot without him digging his heels in, a well-taught muzzle changes everything, at home and at the vet's.Read the guide guideMy dog has bitten someone: the legal procedureIf your dog is the one who bit, a legal procedure comes on top of the first aid: what it requires, in plain terms.Read the guide guideHeatstroke in dogs: what to doThe other emergency to spot fast: the signs that should make you act without waiting.Read the guide guideGrass Seeds in Dogs: How to Spot, Remove and Prevent ThemAnother common cause of small wounds and abscesses, especially between the pads and in the ears.Read the guide guideCaring for your dog's paw padsSmall wounds often show up on the pads: how to protect them and treat them.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Why is my dog's nose bleeding?

A nosebleed isn't a simple surface wound you treat at home: the causes range from a small knock to a foreign body, a clotting disorder or a deeper lesion. Keep your dog calm, don't push anything into the nostril and don't give him any human medicine. You can hold a cool compress on the muzzle and call the vet, especially if it happens again or comes with other signs.

How do I treat a wound on my dog?

For a small clean wound: rinse generously with saline solution to remove soil and debris, cover with a clean dressing and stop your dog licking it. Deep cleaning, clipping and the decision to stitch are the vet's call. A deep or gaping wound, heavy bleeding or a bite: off to the vet without waiting.

My dog has cut his paw pad, what should I do?

Rinse the pad with saline solution, then apply pressure for a few minutes with a clean dressing. If it bleeds heavily, if it's deep, if your dog is clearly limping or if a piece of claw is left behind, it's a vet visit: paw pads heal badly on their own and get infected fast. In the meantime, avoid the long walks that reopen the cut.

Should I disinfect my dog's wound?

The most important thing is to rinse well with saline solution to remove the dirt. A mild antiseptic suited to dogs (diluted chlorhexidine or povidone iodine, for example) can follow, but avoid alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and random human antiseptics, which irritate and damage the tissue. If you're unsure about the product, ask your vet.

How do I stop my dog licking his wound?

With a cone, a recovery suit or a dressing that covers the area. It isn't to annoy him: the saliva and rubbing of licking don't clean anything, they leave the skin soggy and infect it, and can create a red weeping sore within hours. Introduce the cone calmly, pairing it with good things.

My dog's wound is red and swollen, is that serious?

A wound that turns red, swells, feels hot, weeps or smells bad is getting infected: that's the moment to call the vet, not to try a home remedy. Don't put anything on raw skin, and keep him from licking it until the appointment.

My dog has a wound that's bleeding a lot, how do I stop it?

Place a clean cloth or dressings on the wound and press firmly for at least three minutes, without letting go to "take a look": you'd break up the clot that is forming. If blood soaks through, add another layer on top without removing the first. Bleeding that spurts or won't stop is an emergency: call the vet and go.

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