Dog Bite Wound Care With Household Products

If your dog is bitten, always bring him to the vet for a rabies shot and treatment. However, to quickly prevent infection and contain his bleeding, you can perform basic dog bite wound care yourself.

Emergency Care in Your Home

  1. Avoid medicating deep bites or wounds. Leave this for your vet since he will need to stitch up the wound first.
  2. Don't clean wounds that are bleeding excessively since you might cause further bleeding. Instead, control the bleeding by applying mild pressure to the wound.
  3. Dab the surface with gauze pads, a clean, lint-free cloth or a hand-towel.
  4. If blood soaks through the padding, don't remove them; add more on top of the soaked ones and continue applying pressure.
  5. When your pet is not bleeding heavily, you can provide more extensive dog bite wound care.
  6. Trim any dog fur that is covering the bite or wounded area. Use a sharp scissor to cut an inch border around the wounded area.
  7. Flush the injury with cool water or sterile saline contact lens solution. This will help wash away debris. Do not use other contact lens solutions as they will sting.
  8. Shield the wound from contamination. Use a bandage from your first aid kit, another sterile dressing, a clean bath towel, or a sanitary napkin.

Additional household items to use for dog bite wound care:

  • Antibiotic Neosporin ointment
  • Betadine solution
  • Paper towels, napkins
  • Pillow to rest your dog on
  • Medical gloves/unused kitchen gloves
 

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