How can I make my dogs wound heal faster? A Complete Guide

#1 Stop the Bleeding

The first step to healing a dog wound is to stop any bleeding as soon as possible. You can do so by applying pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or towel for five to ten minutes.1

During this time, you can also soothe your sweet doggo to help them relax. Depending on the severity of the wound, they may be in pain and in need of a little TLC.

If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after ten minutes, you should call your vet and defer to their care. Profuse bleeding may indicate:

  • An arterial injury
  • A deep puncture wound
  • Note: Dogs in pain may be prone to aggression, even if they’re usually very calm and loving. Thus, you may want to enlist the help of another person before you treat your dog’s bleeding. If no one is available, you can consider placing a muzzle on your dog for your protection.

    #4 Clean the Wound

    Once the bleeding has stopped, it’s time to clean the wound. Proper wound cleaning can help prevent an infection from developing and speed up the healing process considerably.

    Here are a few steps you may need to take to clean the wound completely:

  • Shave the surrounding fur – If your furry friend is very furry (meaning they have a lot of fur surrounding their wound), you may want to shave it to reduce the risk of contamination. Electric clippers can help you remove the fur gently. Be very careful to avoid cutting any nearby skin. Once you’re done shaving, simply wipe away the fur with a clean towel.
  • Flush the wound with Vetericyn Wound Cleanser (link) – Liberally flushing Vetericyn Plus over the wound will wash away any dirt, debris, fur, blood, pus, or bacteria that could lead to infection down the line. Note: Don’t try to wash an open wound with soap, shampoo, or any other generic cleaning products. These products may be toxic for your dog and potentially harmful to their wound healing process.2 Many of the traditional “anticeptic” wound care products actually impede healing and harm fibroblast cells. This is old technology and there are better solutions for wound care today!
  • Tweeze out any lodged objects – If your dog’s wound has any thorns, twigs, glass, or other foreign objects lodged within it, you can gently remove them with sterilized tweezers. A magnifying glass can help you spot tinier objects you may otherwise overlook.If this process sounds a little too overwhelming, you can always call your vet for an appointment and ask them to take over treatment.
  • #7 Give Your Dog Lots of Love

    While many dogs are smart and curious, they may not understand what’s going on during the treatment process. It can leave them feeling distressed and uncomfortable.

    After treating their wound, make sure to lift your pup’s mood by rewarding them with a treat and some loving attention. A few “good dog” compliments can go a long way too.

    Treating Open Wounds on Your Dog – PET | TAO Holistic Pet Products