Wound Care

Canine wounds and their care

Unfortunately, recognizing different types of wounds and determining a course of action may be expected of any pet owner.  Especially the owner of a working guarding Kangal Dog.  Even the fun romp through the woods with your Kangal can take an unexpected turn and decisions regarding what to do next and whether or not to go to the vet will have to be made.  In this article we will discuss the different types of wounds and their treatment.  However, please remember that when you are in doubt as to seek veterinary advice or not, SEEK VETERINARY ADVICE.

Open VS. Closed wounds

There are two general classes of wounds; open and closed.   Open wounds include abrasions, avulsions, lacerations, incisions, punctures, and gunshot wounds.  Closed wounds include, contusions, hematoma, and crushing injuries.

Abrasions

Abrasions are scrapes.  Picture your Kangal chasing the barn cat at full speed.  He comes around the house and wipes out on the driveway, sliding to an eventual stop leaving hair and skin behind.  Fortunately, a dog’s hair helps prevent most abrasions from being too severe (except in the case of car related accidents which should always go to the vet due to the risk of internal injuries).  Visualization of the wound is always the first step.  You have to see it to assess it. Clip the hair around the wound.  Clean the wound with salt water or an antiseptic.  Saline solutions used for contact lenses are sterile and are great for cleaning abrasions.  If you don’t have either available, simply use running water to flush the wound.  Make sure that you have removed all foreign material.  Small abrasions can be left uncovered.  They should be kept clean. Larger abrasions can be bandaged.  Abrasions are not suturable.

Avulsions

Picture the same Kangal/barn cat scenario, but this time the dog’s slide results in a flap of skin being torn open on three sides or possibly torn away completely.  Once again, you have to clearly see the wound to assess it.  Clean the wound with saline or an antiseptic.  Unless the avulsion is torn away completely, these wounds can be suturable.  So off to the veterinarian you go! Apply ice to limit the amount of swelling.  This makes it easier for your vet to approximate the tissue (pull it together).   If the skin has been removed completely and the wound is small you may be able to treat the wound as you would the abrasion.  If you treat the avulsion at home, remember to keep the wound clean and contact your vet immediately if you suspect it is becoming infected.  Apply a non-stick dressing and bandage.  The non-stick dressing can be made from a clean folded towel or sheet, a sanitary napkin, or actual bandage material.  Don’t use materials like tissues or paper towels that will stick to the wound.  Rolled bandage like “vet wrap” can be used to keep the dressing in place.  The bandage should be firm but not tight. (To keep bandage from being too tight, cut the wrapping to size first, do not use directly from the roll) If you are treating a wound on the leg, make sure your dog’s toes aren’t cold and that he can still feel it when you touch them.  These are two signs that your wrap is too tight.  Any tape (even duct or electrical) can be used to secure the wrap.

Lacerations

These are “cuts” and we’ve all seen them a million times.  They are suturable so you have to accurately assess the wound. I’m sure by now you know that I’m going to tell you to clean the wound.  If possible, clip the hair around the wound first.  We are looking at the depth, width, and location.  If the wound is deep enough to see the yellow fatty tissue inside (subcutaneous tissue) then your Kangal may need stitches so off to the vet you go.  If the wound is wide enough that it is gaping and cannot be easily closed, it will need stitches to hold it in place so that it can heal properly.  Off you go.  Finally, a laceration is more likely to need stitches if it is located in an area where the skin moves and stretches a lot.  If you have determined that your pet’s laceration does meet the criteria for stitches, apply ice to the wound to prevent excessive swelling.  If you do not feel that stitches are needed, approximate the edges of the wound and bandage as explained above.

Incisions

These are similar to lacerations but are made from a very sharp knife like a scalpel.  Therefore, they have very smooth edges.  They are treated the same as lacerations.

Punctures

These are wounds made from penetrating objects such as nails, needles, or canine teeth! Puncture wounds often become infected.  If your dog’s puncture wound is from a foreign object and it is not too deep, you may be able to treat it at home.  Assess your wound after clipping and cleaning.  These wounds should be left uncovered as they need to be watched carefully.  Warm, moist compresses should be applied to the puncture wound after 24 hours and the puncture wound should not be allowed to scab closed for 48 hours.  These measures will help prevent infection.  The early scab can be removed after the application of the warm moist compress.  If the puncture wound is caused from an animal bite, the risk of infection is very high.  So I would recommend a veterinary consultation, as your dog may need to be placed on antibiotics.  When clipping your dog’s hair to better visualize an animal bite, remember that most biting animals have four canine teeth so if you have only found three punctures, keep looking.

Gunshot Wounds

Caused by a bullet or similar projectile, all gunshot wounds are to be considered major wounds. Even if they appear to be superficial, immediate veterinary attention is a must.  Always look for two wounds, an entry wound and an exit wound.  Apply pressure to both wounds and immediately proceed to your veterinarian.