When we face a deep, open or infected wound in dogs, the first thing we should do is go to the vet. However, it may happen that we do not have one at that time and, therefore, the use of home remedies as first aid is necessary. Studies show that natural remedies such as sugar or honey considerably promote the healing of wounds in dogs and, therefore, more and more veterinary specialists use them and recommend them to their patients to heal skin lesions. For this reason, in this article on our site we will explain how to heal wounds in dogs with home remedies, the previous steps you must follow and everything you need to know when regard.
Steps prior to healing
Before proceeding to explain the most effective home remedies to heal wounds in dogs, we must follow a series of steps in order to guarantee proper healing. To do this, the first thing we must do is identify the type of wound, the following being the most common:
- Cuts.
- Damaged nails.
- Other dog bites.
- Cat scratches.
- Burns.
In any of the cases, we can apply the remedies as first aid or natural treatment as long as the wounds produced are mild or moderate. If your dog has a raw, severely infected or very deep wound, veterinary intervention will be necessary. Once cured by the specialist, you can accompany the stipulated treatment with natural remedies.
We have already identified the wound, how do we help the animal before the veterinary visit?
- Perfectly clean the wound with lukewarm water or physiological serum. If there is any type of foreign body or substance, such as dirt or crystals, we will remove it carefully and using tweezers if necessary.
- We disinfect with hydrogen peroxide, never with alcohol. To finish removing any remains, we can moisten a gauze with the liquid and exert small soft touches on the wound.
- Let the wound air out, watching the animal to prevent it from licking or rubbing.
- We cover the wound with gauze without exerting too much pressure.
- We went to the vet depending on the severity of the wound.
As we said, for more superficial wounds, after the previous first aid we can make use of a series of home remedies that will allow us to speed up the healing process. In more serious wounds, we can also apply some of them but it will be essential to visit the specialist afterwards.
Sugar to heal wounds in dogs
Sugar is one of the most widely used natural products for healing injuries in humans and animals due to its multiple healing properties. According to studies published by experts in veterinary medicine, the most notable effects of sugar are the following:
- Favors the expulsion of dead tissue while promoting cell regeneration and the creation of granular tissue (a type of fibrous connective tissue whose function is to fill the wounds).
- Helps dry wounds by absorbing excess moisture, a fact that has led many professionals to use this natural remedy to combat ulcers and similar injuries.
- Reduces edema or prevents its appearance due, precisely, to the previous point.
- It acts as a powerful bactericide by combating its reproduction in wounds. In addition to having antibacterial properties, sugar is antiseptic, so it prevents the development of infections or treats them by promoting the elimination of the causative microorganisms.
For all of the above, we see how sugar helps heal wounds in dogs while fighting infections and reducing inflammation in the area. Its effectiveness is such that it can even be used to treat more serious or deeper injuries (such as the aforementioned ulcers), as long as the veterinarian has previously approved it. In this way, sugar acts on open wounds, deep wounds and minor wounds. But how should we apply it? Below we detail the most used methods.
Sprinkle sugar directly on the dog's wound
If the dog's wound is superficial, shallow or slight, as first aid we can directly sprinkle granulated or powdered sugar. To do this, we will follow these simple steps:
- We disinfect the wound.
- We cover the wound completely with sugar.
- Once the sugar layer has been applied, we cover the wound without removing the sugar with gauze and a bandage, exerting slight pressure to ensure that the home remedy has its effect.
- Leave the remedy on for a few hours, without exceeding 12 hours.
- To change it, we clean the wound again, disinfect it and repeat these steps.
In cases of very serious injuries, you should go to the vet. And if we cannot go at that time for whatever reason, we can apply any of the home remedies to heal wounds in dogs after disinfecting the injury very well and visiting the specialist as soon as possible.
Make sugar paste
Although today we find this healing paste, it is always better to opt for the homemade version, without chemicals and completely natural. Sugar paste is suitable for all types of wounds in dogs, however, it is important to remember that in very serious cases you must go to the veterinarian. The steps to do it are:
- We heat 100 ml of water.
- When it reaches the first boil, remove it from the heat.
- Add 250 grams of sugar and mix to dissolve.
- Let it cool down and apply it to the wound after cleaning and disinfecting it.
- Let's bandage the wound with the medicine on and change the bandage after 10-12 hours.
If we have leftover sugar paste, we can reserve it in a jar with an airtight seal. Of course, we do not recommend keeping this solution for more than a day, being the most appropriate to prepare it again each time we are going to use it.
What if the dog's wound is infected?
Depending on the type and degree of infection, we can also use sugar to treat it due to its aforementioned properties. However, if there is necrotic (dead) tissue, debridement should be performed. This process can be done manually, however, taking into account that it can be very painful for the animal, we recommend that it be done by a specialist. That said, and if there is no necrotic tissue, the first thing we should do is clean the wound well and disinfect it. Then, we apply one of the two previous remedies, bandage the wound and let it act for hours. We will change the bandage and the sugar following the specialist's instructions, since the time between cleanings may vary depending on the type of injury.
Honey to heal wounds in dogs
As is the case with sugar, honey is a powerful natural healing agent that has been used for centuries. Due to its antibacterial, soothing and antiseptic properties, and its ability to stimulate the regeneration of granular tissue and epithelium, it promotes healing and accelerates the process without the need for go to commercial ointments. Of course, to achieve the desired effects, it is essential, first, to go to the veterinarian to consider if it is necessary to use medications to relieve pain, for example, and second, to be constant in the care.
Honey can be used to heal wounds in dogs of a more or less minor nature, infected, burns, ulcers and deeper injuries, as long as they are not very large. If there is necrotic tissue, it will be essential to visit the specialist so that he can remove it and set the guidelines for the application of honey to heal the wound. To use honey as a healing agent, follow these steps:
- Clean and disinfect the wound well.
- Apply a layer of pure bee honey It is very important to use quality honey to guarantee optimal results. In this sense, although there are many types of honey that exist, studies show that manuka honey is one of the most recommended for its powerful antimicrobial properties.
- Cover the injury with gauze and a bandage, exerting slight pressure for the remedy to act.
- Leave on during the hours stipulated by the veterinarian.
- Perform the dressing change by carefully removing the bandage, allowing the wound to air out a little and repeating all the steps.
Depending on the type of wound, the bandage can be changed once a day or every few hours. Likewise, depending on the severity, honey to heal wounds in dogs can take effect in days or weeks.
Aloe vera to heal wounds in dogs
Aloe vera is one of the most widely used plants in medicine for the creation of drugs and natural remedies for therapeutic purposes. Due to its multiple he alth properties, its popularity has spread to all corners of the planet, even reaching the animal world and becoming one of the best remedies for healing wounds in dogs. Its healing capacity comes from one of its main ingredients, acemannan, a mucopolysaccharide with powerful anti-inflammatory, calming and cell proliferation-stimulating properties, a fact that promotes the regeneration of damaged tissueand accelerates the wound healing process.
To apply this natural remedy, simply follow these steps:
- Cut a leaf from the plant, keeping in mind that the ones closest to the ground are the oldest and, therefore, the ones with the greatest properties.
- Make a longitudinal cut to open the leaf lengthwise and extract the pulp.
- If the pulp is too thick, mix it with a little water.
- Clean and disinfect the wound.
- Apply the aloe vera gel covering it completely.
- Place a clean gauze pad and bandage for the ointment to take effect.
- Change the bandage following the specialist's instructions and letting the wound breathe before repeating all the steps.
In addition to helping to heal the wound, aloe vera calms itching and relieves pain, as well as preventing possible infection. On the other hand, this wonderful plant also has antifungal properties, making it perfect for healing wounds caused by fungus.
Calendula cream to heal wounds in dogs
Calendula is another of the most popular plants in alternative medicine, especially for healing wounds and all kinds of skin lesions due to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, soothing, analgesic and healing properties. To be able to use this plant and heal sores on dogs, open wounds or other injuries, it will be necessary to first make calendula oilTo do this, we will follow these steps:
- We take a handful of calendula flowers and clean them well.
- Put them in a sterilized jar and cover them completely with extra virgin olive oil.
- Close the jar and let the oil macerate in a dark, moisture-free place for 40 days.
- After some time, we strain the oil.
As we probably won't have 40 days to treat our dog's wound, we will have no choice but to buy the oil already prepared, always making sure to get a natural one. Once achieved, we will prepare a simple cream that we will use to cover the wound, moisturize it and promote tissue regeneration. To make this healing ointment for dogs we will do the following:
- Heat the calendula oil in a water bath.
- Add 5 grams of beeswax and mix until dissolved.
- Put the solution into a hermetically sealed jar.
- Let it cool completely before covering the jar.
Now that we have the calendula cream ready, it's as simple as cleaning and disinfecting the wound or injury, applying a layer of cream, covering the wound and bandaging. We will carry out the bandage changes following the instructions of the veterinarian and we will never leave the remedy for more than 12 hours, unless the specialist indicates otherwise. We will reserve the cream in a place free of moisture for a maximum of one week.
When should I go to the vet
As we pointed out at the beginning of the article, you should go to the vet whenever the dog shows very deep, raw, infected woundsor with a large amount of dead tissue, such as those caused by third and fourth degree burns. For the latter case, it is necessary to carry out debridement, a process of removing non-living tissue by a specialist. If we carry out this task ourselves, we run the risk of worsening the wound and further harming the animal.
If we are clear that we have to go to the specialist but, at that time, we cannot access the consultation, then one of the remedies mentioned above should be applied as first aid until we can attend the clinic.
