Many pet owners love to take care of their furry friends on a typical day-to-day basis. Besides having a great veterinarian to handle serious medical situations owners should be able to provide first aid for non-life-threatening injuries. 

What to do when your pet has a cut

Getting bumps and cuts may be common when you and your pet live an active life and treatment is very simple. Though the treatment for a laceration on a pet is like treating a human you may never use over the counter human product on your animal. The first step to treat your animal at home is to gently apply pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. If the laceration is large and you are having trouble stopping the bleeding, hold pressure to the wound and wrap the area then drive your pet to the nearest veterinarian. 

            Cleaning the wound is a vital next step to prevent infection. After the bleeding from your pet has stopped apply hydrogen peroxide to the wound to clean the area. To allow for proper healing hydrogen peroxide cannot be used continuously over a long period of time. As a second option, clean water may be used to wash the area if hydrogen peroxide is not available. 

            First aid kits for pets have antiseptic sprays and ointments that can be used to help your pet through the healing process. Neosporin is a triple antibiotic that can be used to treat pets in small amounts. Neosporin is very effective to stop bacterial infections. 

            The last step to wound care is wrapping the wound. By wrapping the wound, it allows the wound to stay clean and dry and will protect the wound from being bitten or scratched at. Make sure to monitor your pet to ensure the wound wrap isn’t too tight and that the wrap is undisturbed. If you notice that your pet bites or licks the wrap it would be beneficial to place an e-collar around their neck. 

When to see your veterinarian

            It is recommended to see your veterinarian when your pet has a wound deep enough to show underlying tissue since they may need stitches, antibiotics, and pain medication. A bite from another animal can be very painful for your pet so receiving the right pain medication and antibiotics is crucial. If you see redness, a swollen area, puss, or other discharge around a wound take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.  

            We all love and take good care of our fur babies but making sure all owners are able to provide the proper first aid to their pets is a vital part of being a pet owner. 

By: Victoria Garza