Cuts & Wounds — The 6-Hour Stitches Window

Triage — Minor vs. Serious

MINOR (home care possible)

• Less than ½ inch long
• Surface scrape only
• Bleeding stops within 5 min of pressure
• Edges naturally come together
• NOT on face, joint, or paw pad

SERIOUS (vet always)

• Deeper than ½ inch
• Won't stop bleeding after 10 min direct pressure
• Edges gaping or jagged
• Visible muscle, fat, tendon, or bone
• Bite wound — ALWAYS, even if tiny puncture
• Face, eye area, joint, paw pad, chest, abdomen
• Heavy contamination (motor oil, gravel embedded)

What to Do Right Now

STEP 1 — Stop the Bleeding

• Direct pressure with clean cloth, 5-10 minutes uninterrupted
• DO NOT keep peeking — pressure must stay constant for clot formation
• If blood soaks through, add MORE cloth on top, don't remove first layer

STEP 2 — DO NOT Tourniquet Unless Arterial Spurt (Rare)

Tourniquets cause necrosis and amputation if applied wrong. Pressure bandage above the wound = enough for limb bleeding.

STEP 3 — Once Bleeding Stops, Clean

• ✅ Saline solution (homemade: 1 tsp salt in 1 cup boiled-cooled water)
• ✅ Or chlorhexidine 0.05% (dilute to weak tea color)
• ❌ NEVER hydrogen peroxide on wounds — antiseptic but TOXIC to healing tissue. Damages fibroblasts, delays healing, can embolize in deep wounds.
• ❌ NEVER alcohol — burns and damages tissue
• ❌ NEVER Neosporin/Bacitracin with pain reliever — pain relievers like pramoxine can be toxic if licked

STEP 4 — Cover

• Non-stick gauze pad (Telfa)
• Light wrap (vet wrap, NOT tight)
• Cone the dog IMMEDIATELY (unless area dog can't reach)

When Stitches Are Needed

• Deeper than ½ inch
• Wider than ¼ inch gap
• Won't stop bleeding
• Edges won't come together
• Face, joint, or high-tension area
• Bite wound (always)
• Older than 6h (vet decides between primary closure vs. delayed closure)

Home Wound Care (Minor Wounds Only)

Daily Routine

1. Saline rinse 2× per day
2. Vetericyn Plus spray (hypochlorous acid — non-toxic, won't burn, safe if licked) — 3-4× per day
3. Keep clean and DRY (no bathing, no swimming until healed)
4. Cone 24/7 if dog CAN reach the area — even when "she only licks a little." Saliva = bacteria + tongue abrasion = infection
5. Photograph daily to track healing

Signs of Infection (Vet Immediately)

• Red halo expanding around wound
• Hot to touch
• Swollen beyond original size
• Pus — any color (yellow, green, brown)
• Foul smell
• Lethargy, loss of appetite
• Fever (>39.5°C / 103°F rectal)
• Wound that was healing now reopening

Common Mistakes That Delay Healing

1. Hydrogen peroxide on open wounds — biggest one. "It's bubbling so it's working" — actually killing healing cells.
2. Ignoring puncture wounds because they look small — these are MOST dangerous (anaerobic abscess risk)
3. Not using a cone — "she's not bothering it" until you leave room
4. Bandaging too tight — causes ischemia and necrosis. Should fit two fingers under.
5. Bathing too soon — wet wounds + soap = macerated tissue, slowed healing
6. Stopping antibiotics early — finish full course even if it looks healed