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
- Avoid medicating deep bites or wounds. Leave this for your vet since he will need to stitch up the wound first.
- 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.
- Dab the surface with gauze pads, a clean, lint-free cloth or a hand-towel.
- If blood soaks through the padding, don't remove them; add more on top of the soaked ones and continue applying pressure.
- When your pet is not bleeding heavily, you can provide more extensive dog bite wound care.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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