A common occurrence in dogs is that they injure themselves on sharp objects lying around on the floor because they always like to run around everywhere. Broken glass, as well as scrap or stones, can be responsible for this. So what can you do if your dog has injured the ball of its foot?
First, you should see how bad the injury actually is. If there is a deep cut or your dog is losing a lot of blood then you should take him to the vet quickly.
How can you clean the wound?
But if the injury is less serious, there are several things you can do to help it. First of all, it is important to clean the wound. This is because there may be stones or small shards in it that you need to remove.
Do not use alcohol!
Alcohol increases the bleeding. Instead, it would be better to use an iodine solution or hydrogen peroxide. The latter foams in the wound, which means that small residues can sometimes be removed automatically.
Another way to remove small stones and debris is to use these antiseptic solutions one at a time, rinsing the wound with water under pressure in between. To do this, you can simply pull the water into a syringe and then squeeze it out firmly so that there is a slight pressure.
Do not use cotton!
As a rule, you shouldn’t use cotton wool on animals, and in the present case the reason for this is obvious: the cotton wool fibers could remain in the wound.
Instead, you’d better use compresses. These do not necessarily have to be sterile and can, if necessary, be replaced by absorbent paper.
To stop the bleeding if necessary, you can start by squeezing the affected area, but this may not work and it may not please your dog. You can also apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly to the wound.
A temporary plaster
Then protect the wound with compresses. Try using a patch, but it is likely that it will either slip or be too tight in such an area.
But you should put a temporary plaster on until you go to the vet. Depending on the injury, he or she can decide to sew up the wound and/or give the animal antibiotics and painkillers.
As a result, it is important to protect the wound when walking outdoors and to clean it carefully with the above antiseptic solutions at least three times a day.
