How to Clean a Dog's Wound

Hold your dog still and examine the skin and fur around his wound. Ask a companion to hold the dog if possible, so you can get a better look at the injury. For large or aggressive dogs, it may be necessary to request assistance to keep the dog still enough to evaluate the wound. Take your hands off the dog immediately if he begins to growl or if he shows other signs of aggression.

Apply pressure to the site around the wound with sterile material to slow bleeding if necessary. Wear clean, disposable gloves to decrease the chance of transmitting pathogens to the skin around the dog's wound. If significant bleeding continues, wrap sterile linen or gauze securely around the wound and transport your dog to the nearest animal medical center for emergency treatment as soon as possible.

Rinse the wound, as well as the skin and fur around it, with clean water. Slightly pressurizing the water, by squirting it from a bottle or hose, will rinse away dirt and debris more quickly. Warm tap water, or a low-concentration salt solution, is enough to wash your dog's injury. Mix one level teaspoon of salt with two cups of water to create a suitable saline solution, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

Flush the wound with hydrogen peroxide or a similar sterilizing solution to kill bacteria lingering on the surface of the exposed tissue. Only apply hydrogen peroxide to the wound once, as excessive application can damage surviving skin cells around the wound, according to the American Kennel Club.

Take your dog to your veterinarian or a local animal hospital if he has suffered a deep wound, or if his injury continues to bleed after basic treatment. Superficial wounds may not always warrant a trip to the veterinarian's office, but even small wounds can become infected with dangerous, invasive pathogens. Consult your veterinarian immediately if your dog's wound shows signs of infection. Swelling, skin discoloration and obvious signs of festering are all good indicators that an infection is setting in.