Wound Care Requires Prompt First Aid
My-Dog.info > Dog Health
It is not uncommon for a pet owner to be confronted with a
wounded pet at some time. Wounds can be classified as either open
(i.e. a break in the skin) or closed. First aid for the
management of any open wound involves two steps:
Stop the bleeding
If an open wound is bleeding, the first priority is to control
it. Before attempting to do anything, be sure the animal is
properly restrained and, if necessary, apply a muzzle. To stop
bleeding, apply direct pressure to the wound using a sterile or
clean gauze sponge or cloth. When applying pressure, do not keep
lifting the gauze to see if the bleeding has stopped. This only
disrupts the clot that may have formed. Likewise, if blood soaks
through the gauze, do not discard the soaked bandage since it
contains important clotting factors. Instead, keep adding more
bandage material on top of the soaked bandage. If possible,
elevate the wound.
For severe bleeding, it may be necessary to apply direct
pressure to the arteries that supply the affected area. These
pressure points are located at the upper inside (armpit) of the
front legs, the upper inside of the hind legs and the underside
of the tail. The use of a tourniquet should be avoided. However,
if a tourniquet is to be used, it must be used only as a last
resort and then only if it is loosened every few minutes to
restore blood circulation.
Prevent wound contamination
A clean, protective dressing should be applied to open wounds
whenever possible to prevent infection and contamination. Never
use cotton batting directly on an open wound, since the fibres
will contaminate the wound.
If the wound is minor and superficial, gently cleanse it with
ordinary soap and water. Try to clip back the hairs with a pair
of scissors, being careful not to cut the skin accidentally.
Apply an antiseptic or antibiotic ointment (e.g. Polysporin®),
followed by a snug dressing. Be careful not to restrict the
circulation by making the bandage too tight. If a wound is major
and deep, do not probe or clean it, but simply apply a dressing
and contact your veterinarian. As a rule, cats and dogs do not
require tetanus shots.
For bite wounds, clip back the hairs away from the puncture
sites with scissors and then thoroughly wash the wound with
copious amounts of soap and water. Three per cent hydrogen
peroxide may also be used after washing.
It is wise to have all bite wounds examined by a veterinarian,
no matter how minor they appear. Very often, there may be more
extensive damage to the tissues under the skin that is not
immediately evident. Most, if not all, pets with open wounds and
bite wounds also require antibiotics to prevent infection.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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