Wounds in dogs and cats
What is a wound?
A wound is any break or injury to the skin and underlying tissues. Common examples include cuts, grazes, punctures, bite wounds, torn nails, degloving injuries and ruptured abscesses.
The skin opening may be much smaller than the damage underneath. Bite wounds can crush tissue, create pockets beneath the skin and introduce bacteria deep into the wound. Injuries caused by road trauma or sharp objects may also extend into a body cavity or damage muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels or bone.
When is a wound an emergency?
• Bleeding does not stop after firm, continuous pressure for 10 minutes
• The wound is deep, gaping, heavily contaminated or caused by a bite or puncture
• Fat, muscle, bone or another deeper structure is visible
• The wound is over the chest, abdomen, eye, neck, paw pad or a joint
• Your pet is weak, pale, collapsed, breathing abnormally or in severe pain
• There is rapidly increasing swelling, marked bruising or a suspected fracture
• The wound produces pus, has a bad smell, or your pet has fever, lethargy or reduced appetite
What can I do before travelling to the vet?
• Keep your pet calm and prevent licking or chewing.
• For active bleeding, apply firm direct pressure with clean gauze or a clean cloth. Do not repeatedly lift it to check, as this can disturb the clot.
• If the wound is dirty, gently rinse visible surface contamination with clean tap water or saline, provided this does not delay transport.
• Cover the wound loosely with a clean, non-stick dressing or cloth for transport.
Do not apply hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, Dettol, powders, essential oils, human creams or household disinfectants. These products can damage healthy tissue or be toxic if licked. Do not remove deeply embedded objects; stabilise them and seek urgent care.
How will the wound be assessed?
Your veterinarian will first assess pain, bleeding and your pet’s overall stability. Fur may need to be clipped so the full extent of the injury can be seen. Sedation or general anaesthesia is often required because wounds can be painful and deeper damage may only become apparent after clipping, exploration and flushing.
Depending on the injury, assessment may include:
• Careful examination and probing of the wound
• Blood tests when there has been significant trauma, blood loss or systemic illness
• Radiographs or ultrasound to look for fractures, foreign material or injury beneath the wound
• Sampling for bacterial culture when infection is established, unusual or not responding as expected
How are wounds treated?
Treatment is tailored to the wound’s age, location, contamination, tissue damage and blood supply. The main principles are pain control, thorough lavage, removal of dead or contaminated tissue, control of infection when present, protection of the wound and maintenance of an appropriate moist healing environment.
• Pain relief and, when required, sedation or general anaesthesia
• Clipping, high-volume lavage and surgical debridement of damaged or dead tissue
• Removal of foreign material and treatment of deeper injuries
• Sutures or staples when the wound is clean, viable and can be closed without excessive tension
• A drain when fluid or contamination may otherwise become trapped beneath the skin
• Open-wound management with an appropriate dressing when immediate closure would trap infection or when tissue viability is uncertain
• Delayed closure, skin flaps, grafts or negative-pressure wound therapy for selected complex wounds
Not every wound should be stitched immediately. Closing a contaminated or infected wound too early can trap bacteria and damaged tissue, increasing the risk of abscess formation and wound breakdown.
Will my pet need antibiotics?
Antibiotics are not automatically required for every superficial wound. Cleaning, lavage and removal of devitalised tissue are the most important ways to reduce infection. Antibiotics may be recommended for infected wounds, deep punctures or bite wounds, wounds involving joints or body cavities, heavily contaminated injuries, or pets with systemic illness or reduced immunity.
When culture results are available, treatment may be adjusted to target the bacteria identified. Give the full course exactly as prescribed and do not use leftover antibiotics.
How do wounds heal?
• Primary closure: the wound is cleaned and surgically closed. This is usually faster but is only appropriate when contamination and damaged tissue have been adequately managed.
• Delayed primary closure: the wound is managed open for a short period, then closed once contamination and tissue viability are better controlled.
• Second-intention healing: the wound remains open and gradually fills with healthy tissue and contracts from the edges. This can take longer and requires regular dressing changes and rechecks.
Caring for your pet at home
• Keep the Elizabethan collar or other protective device on continuously until your veterinarian advises it can be removed.
• Restrict running, jumping and rough play. Use short, controlled toilet walks only when advised.
• Keep the wound and any bandage clean and dry. Cover a limb bandage outdoors only briefly, then remove the waterproof cover immediately after returning inside.
• Do not remove, clean or apply products to the wound unless specifically instructed.
• Give all pain relief and antibiotics exactly as directed.
• Attend every recommended bandage change, drain removal, wound check and suture-removal appointment.
Contact a veterinarian promptly if a bandage becomes wet, slips, smells, is chewed, becomes soiled, or if swelling appears above or below it. Also seek advice if the toes become cold, swollen, discoloured or painful. A wet or tight bandage can cause serious tissue damage and should not be left until the next scheduled appointment.
Possible complications
• Infection or abscess formation
• Fluid accumulation beneath the skin
• Loss of tissue that initially appeared healthy
• Suture or wound breakdown from infection, tension, movement or self-trauma
• Delayed healing, a larger scar or the need for repeat surgery
• Bandage sores, swelling or reduced circulation
Some wound damage evolves over several days, particularly after crushing, bites or road trauma. A treatment plan may therefore change as tissue viability becomes clearer.
Clinically reviewed and approved by Dr Giulia Agostini, Pet Emergency Senior Veterinarian and Clinical Manager, DVM MANZCVS (ECC) August 2026