Dogs are man’s best friend, and while they are adapted surprisingly well to human culture and homes, they are still animals at the end of the day. As such, from time to time they will get into some sort of goofy dog shenanigans and end up with some sort of injury somewhere on their body. This is particularly likely with puppies and young dogs that like to play frequently. The same is true in a house with multiple dogs who love to play together. If you have a dog that has a minor flesh injury check out the article below to find out not only how to treat these wounds at home, but how to do it in a safe and natural way.
Natural Treatment #1: Rinse with an Apple Cider Vinegar Solution
ACV is a Popular Home Remedy for Cleaning Minor Pet Injuries
So your dog has a brand new cut, scrape, or wound and you aren’t sure how best to go about treating it. Well not to worry, there are a few simple steps you can take to clean your dog's wound in a healthy and natural way.
The first thing you will want to do anytime your dog has a new wound is rinse the wound out to make sure it is free from any sort of debris or bacteria. Leaving a wound unrinsed and just applying a bandage overtop can actually trap debris or bacteria down in the wound itself and this can lead to infection or other serious medical conditions. So the first thing you’ll want to do is rinse the wound with a natural rinse.
There are two popular methods used to rinse a dog's wound naturally. The first way is by using apple cider vinegar which has long been used for first aid purposes. To make the rinse simply choose the herbs you would like to use. Rosemary leaves, orange peel, lemon peel, or chamomile are all popular choices. Then simply add the herbs into a spray bottle or other container until it is about a third of the way full. Then simply fill the rest of the container up with organic cider vinegar. Allow this solution to mix together and then you can use it to clean your dog's wound. The benefit of the apple cider and herbs are not only will they rinse the cut but they will also repel insects away from the injured area which your dog will thank you for.
Natural Treatment #2: Herbal Tea Rinse
Tap Into the Natural Healing Properties of Teas Like Chamomile, St. John’s Wort, and Lavender
Another popular solution for an at home natural remedy to clean a dog’s wounds is with an herbal tea rinse. In order to brew an herbal tea rinse to cleanse or treat your dog’s injury you will want to find a tea that has ingredients that are known for their natural healing properties. Popular options include chamomile, St. John’s Wort and lavender.
You’ll want to take a couple teaspoons of the dried herb of your choice and add them to a cup of boiling water. Like any sort of tea you will want to allow it to steep for the recommended length of time. After the tea is ready simply add it to your spray bottle or other container and place it in the fridge. This is an important step because you want the rinse to cool before applying it to your dog’s wound. You certainly don’t want to burn them on an area where they are already cut or scrapped as that will exacerbate the wound instead of heal it. After the solution has cooled to an appropriate level, simply spray or rinse the afflicted area thoroughly. Allow a few minutes for the rinse to evaporate before adding any sort of bandage or covering.
Treatment #3: When Natural Remedies Won’t Cut It, Head to the Vet
Bigger Injuries Require a Call or Visit to a Trained Veterinary Professional
It is important to note that not every dog wound can be taken care of naturally and at home. If your dog has a wound that measures more than half of an inch, they will probably require stitches and medical attention from a veterinarian. Regardless of the size of the wound though, if it is producing a large amount of blood, or if it will not stop bleeding it is a good idea to take your dog to the vet. Or give your veterinarian a call and get their opinion at a minimum.
One type of wound that you shouldn’t try to treat at home is if your dog has been bitten by another dog. Whether this was in some sort of neighborhood scuffle, or even if it was just your two dogs playing together and getting a little too rough, a dog bite wound will always require a trained medical eye. This is because a dog’s mouth is full of bacteria and this bacteria can linger deep below the surface of the wound. So even if you rinse and cover the wound it is possible the bacteria will stay alive beneath the surface and lead to a serious infection or other illnesses.
Regardless of how good a job you do watching over your dog there is always the chance they get some sort of minor injury or abrasion. But if you follow the steps in this article you can quickly identify the severity of the wound and decide if it is something that can be treated right at home, or if it’s something that will require more serious medical attention.
If it can be treated right at home you will be all set with a simple vinegar or herbal tea rinse. It’s a good idea to have the rinses on hand so you don’t have to prepare them every time your dog gets a little wound. But even if you don’t have anything on hand, these rinses only take a few minutes to mix up as long as you have the appropriate ingredients around the house. Your dog will certainly thank you for treating their wounds in a natural and safe way.
