Need free help with dog bite wound care? Does her licking and dog saliva worry you? Learn how to treat a puncture wound and other skin injuries to prevent an abscess with home remedies for dogs.
Have you ever rushed your dog to the vet for a puncture wound or an abscess?
How about a wound which required a stitch or two and your
dog later chewed out the stitches and still healed perfectly?
It can be frustrating to walk out of that office with a big bill and antibiotics for dogs that may not be needed. Especially when antibiotics have side effects which can ruin our dog's digestion.
Okay, let's start with saliva; hers, not yours silly.
Dog Saliva
Something that always makes me laugh inside is when I hear a parent tell a child, "Don't let that dog lick you! He'll give you germs!"
In our house when my kids were growing up, we all offered our cuts, scrapes and 'boo-boos' to the dogs for licking.
Why? Dog saliva kills bacteria! We always healed faster this way and the dogs seemed to instinctively know how much and how often we needed treatment. It also saved money on creams and ointments. (Remember that I'm thrifty.)
Now you know why dogs can eat a raw meat diet and we can't. They were made for it. It also explains why my dog's chewed out their stitches on more than one occasion, only to heal perfectly.
(Note I am not talking about obsessive licking which can promote fungal growth from staying wet.)
Dog Bite Wound Care
If your dog has been in a tussle with another canine family member or the neighborhood menace, you have some options.
Start with closeup observation using:
To stop bleeding you can open a capsule of goldenseal and sprinkle it on the wound. Next, clean it with one of these options:
If your dog can lick the wound that 's fine. He can do a bit of dog bite wound care himself. Nothing listed above will hurt your dog if he licks it (but I'm not crazy about the antibacterial soap).
If your canine cannot reach it, use the above rinses for a few days. You can even put them in a spray bottle for ease of use. Now let's talk about healing.
Here's where we get to my favorite stuff. A natural antibiotic which can be used both internally and externally. NSP Silver Shield. The ointment can be put on the wound and the liquid can be given with an oral syringe. Being tasteless is a big bonus, so no one seems to mind taking it.
Prevention of Abscesses
The
problem with dog wounds is that they heal so quickly! When the skin
heals over and there is any bacteria left inside, it forms an abscess or
pus pocket.Thus the reason vets will give antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
For Silver Shield users:
Giving doses of garlic, goldenseal or an echinacea/goldenseal combination will help heal from the inside since they have antibacterial properties.
These natural canine antibiotic herbs kill only the bad bacteria, unlike prescription antibiotics for dogs. I suggest using one of them for 5 to 7 days if the wound is looking good, but longer will do no harm at all.
When using fresh garlic for dogs, 1/2 clove per 10 pounds each day, chopped or grated fresh is a dosage you can use every day. You may substitute Kyolic Aged Liquid Garlic, or NSP High Potency Garlic (Shoot me an email for NSP garlic dose for the size of your dog).
NEVER use garlic powder or garlic salt from your spice cupboard.
that's all there is to dog bite wound care. Keep up daily observations to be sure he is healing and feeling well.
To be prepared for dog health issues, please read Dog Home Remedies where I share what I keep on hand. They're remedies we can use too!
Dog Bite Wound Care to Basic Care
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Important Notice
I sell NSP (Nature's Sunshine) herbs and supplements for your dog. While these are strictly tested and made for human consumption, I am the only one in the United States successfully using them for dogs for over a decade now.
To get proper doses for your dog you must purchase through me. I've spent a great deal of time choosing the right combinations and doses per weight for your canine kid.
WARNING: DO NOT FOLLOWING DOSING DIRECTIONS ON THE LABEL. THEY ARE TOO POTENT FOR DOGS