First aid for small cuts and scrapes! This is what I do when my dogs (or goats) have a small bite or cut from barbed wire or thorns.

Depending on the location and severity of flesh wounds from your dog being outside living his best life, you may want to treat at home rather than going to the vet. What I remember in these situations is to keep the injury CLEAN. That’s why the vet prescribes antibiotics after surgeries, etc. Small cuts and scratches are not a problem for your dog’s body to heal on its own. I have thought my animals needed stitches more times than they actually have.

Initial cleaning: You may need to shave the area to determine the deepness of the cut. If you can see that it is not very deep, you can go ahead and clean it. Rinse first with warm saline solution to make sure no particles are stuck where they shouldn’t be. Next, you will treat with betadine solution. This will eliminate bacteria. It does stain clothes and skin.

Regular cleaning: Spray with Veterycin or a similar antimicrobial spray. You can do this step again any time in the coming days to aid in the healing process. You may also use antibiotic ointment, but keep in mind that this can cause dirt to stick to your open cut.

Maintenance: Check the area daily for fluid and/or heat. Heat is a sign of infection and may warrant a trip to your vet. Fluid is normal but may prompt an additional cleaning with saline solution and/or antimicrobial spray.

Itching: Natural anti-itch remedies such as Skin Support Plus can provide relief from itching, which is likely during the healing process. Skin Support Plus is made from tea tree, aloe, and chamomile and is also helpful with hot spots and allergies. Get it here! https://pawtree.com/bethanywmoser/product/Skin-Support-Plus-2022

In my experience, putting a bandage on a small cut doesn’t work, especially if you have an outdoor dog. Keeping the area exposed to the air is better than trapping moisture and bacteria close to the wound. You should see improvement until you no longer feel the need to check daily.

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