My dog got a wound between his toes and now there are maggots. What can I do?

(June 10, 2010)

Dog owners have to fulfill their responsibility of taking care of their furry friend. Caring for your dog is a continuous process and so owners must be prepared to deal with any kind of dog health problems or injuries which their dogs may face. It is always better to be prepared for any kind of injury that may require dog first aid. The basic items which the dog first aid kit must have are an ace bandage, antiseptics, Benadryl, antibiotic ointments, tweezers, scissors, and tape. Dog wound care requires constant attention and cleaning.

Dog wound treatment involves two basic steps: first to stop bleeding and second to prevent any infection. To control bleeding you need to opt for either a pressure dressing or a tourniquet. The wound should be thoroughly lavaged and debrided as necessary before closure. While using any cleanser or touching the injured area, the dog may bite you in pain. So, before dog wound treatment, you must muzzle the dog, as this will prevent the dog from biting you or anyone.

There are chances that the open wound may get infected. Under such circumstance, you must immediately seek your vet’s advice. The common signs and symptoms of infection are fever, redness and swelling in the infected area. It is vital that the right treatment starts as early as possible, otherwise it may turn into an abscess and require draining. Here are a few guidelines that will tell you how to diagnose, clean and treat dog wounds.

• If the wound is minor, you only need to clean it using mild soap and warm water. You must dry the wound using cotton or clean cloth and apply antiseptic ointment. You may also use aloe vera to heal minor wounds. It easily penetrates through all the layers of the dog’s skin and starts healing from the inside out, thus leading to quick recovery.
• You must clean the wound gently and avoid using a brush or gauze pad as it may cause bleeding and traumatize the exposed tissue.
• The dressings on the infected wounds must be routinely changed in order to facilitate drainage of pus. Do apply fresh ointment each time you change the dressing after cleaning the wound.
• If the wound is small, you can leave it uncovered but you must ensure that larger wounds are covered with gauze pads and taped to clipped skin.
• Proper dog wound care reduces the risk of tetanus and prevent infections. If the wound does not appear to be healing properly and is painful for your dog you must take it to your vet for a checkup.