How do you treat a scratch on a dog s skin

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated January 15, 2025

Contributions sourced from

Health Risks of a Dog Scratch

Dogs are among the most popular animal companions. In fact, its estimated that dogs live in about 38 percent of households in the United States.

Still, as with having any other pet, its important to be aware of the variety of diseases and health risks that may be transmitted from your canine companion. Some of these health risks may be derived from dog scratches that arise from playing, feeding, and coming into contact with an unknown animal.

Not all dog scratches are serious, but its important to be on the lookout for possible signs of infection, and call a doctor to rule out more serious health consequences.

Read on to learn about possible health risks from dog scratches and how to treat and prevent them.

Daily interactions with your dog including playtime can sometimes result in scratches. These might occur from your dogs nails when they step on you or jump up on you, as well as accidentally scratching you with their teeth while playing fetch or during feedings.

When you get scratched by a dog, you may notice red marks on your skin. These may temporarily become painful and swollen and, in more severe cases, lead to more serious health risks. Possibilities may include:

excessive bleeding
infections, such as Capnocytophaga bacteria
tetanus, which is caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria
rabies, a serious viral infection
sepsis, a life-threatening emergency caused by the spread of an infection to vital organs

Any dog scratch including those that seem mild and harmless ought to be treated immediately to prevent infection and other health complications. Consider the following steps:

First, wash (but dont scrub) the dog scratch wound with warm water and soap. Rinse for at least 5 minutes. Pat dry with a clean towel.
If the dog scratch is bleeding, apply pressure to the area with a clean gauze pad.
Apply an over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic cream or ointment.
Cover the wound with a sterile bandage.

Some dogs carry a bacteria in their mouths called Capnocytophaga. While these bacteria rarely spread to people, theres still a chance of getting sick from exposure to an animals saliva, especially if you have a weakened immune system.

Capnocytophaga infections can progress quickly, even becoming life-threatening. Possible symptoms related to this type of infection include:

swelling
redness and blisters
pus from the bite
fever
headache
muscle or joint aches
abdominal pain
diarrhea
vomiting

Call or visit a doctor if youre experiencing any signs of infection post-dog scratch. Its also a good idea to seek medical attention any time youve been scratched by a dog especially if the dog isnt your own.

Rabies is a type of viral infection that can occur when bitten by an animal thats infected. This is a serious infection that can be fatal in both animals and humans, due to the viruss attack on the nervous system.

While animal-to-animal transmission is possible, its not as common for humans to be infected by household pets in the United States. Part of this reduced risk is attributed to rabies vaccines in domesticated animals.

Still, rabies ought to be considered in the case of a serious wound from a dog, particularly if its a stray dog or one who hasnt been vaccinated against rabies. The virus may be transmitted through an infected dogs saliva from biting or accidental scratching.

How a dog with rabies may behave

A dog who is infected with rabies may have the following symptoms:

behavioral changes
reduced appetite
voice changes/changes to their barks
panting
anxiety and restlessness
attempted attacks on people and other animals
paralysis

What to do if you suspect youve been bitted by a dog with rabies

If youve been bitten or scratched by a dog with an unknown rabies vaccination status, call a doctor. They may recommend treatment with rabies vaccines as well as antibodies.

Humans (with the exception of veterinarians and other professionals who handle animals) dont typically get the rabies vaccine unless theyve been exposed to the virus from an infected animal.

Symptoms of a rabies infection

Symptoms of rabies are slow to develop, taking several weeks or months. Waiting to seek treatment until youre symptomatic may have life-threatening consequences.

Possible signs of rabies in humans may include:

fatigue
fever
headache
weakness
anxiety
hallucinations, and other neurological changes

While its not always possible to avoid all cases of dog scratches, you may help minimize your risk of getting sick by:

washing your hands after playing with and feeding your dog
carefully washing scratches that do occur
bandaging dog scratches and any subsequent open wounds
keeping your dog up-to-date on their vaccines
avoiding contact with other dogs that may be feral or unvaccinated
walking your dog on a leash to prevent exposure to wild animals
asking your doctor if youre up to date on your vaccines

Also, if you have your own dog, you may help reduce the risk of scratches from toenails and bites by training your dog not to jump up on you, and to use their mouths softly during playtime and feedings.

Getting scratched by your dog can happen, especially during feeding and playtime. While you can train your dog to be more gentle, occasional scratches are still inevitable. Your risk may also be greater when coming into contact with a wild dog, or a domesticated one whos not your own.

Washing a dog scratch wound is critical in preventing infections. Depending on the severity of the wound, you may consider calling your doctor regarding next steps.

Seek medical care if youre injured by a dog who isnt yours, if youve been bitten, are bleeding excessively, or are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

How to Treat A Cut on A Dog (& What to Put on It)

Despite our best efforts, dogs sometimes get hurt. One part of being a responsible pet parent is knowing how to answer the question, "What can I put on my dog's cut?" and how to treat a cut on a dog at home. Having a dog-specific first aid kit on hand, knowing what to use to treat a cut at home and recognizing when your dog needs veterinary attention are all important parts of pet care. If your furry friend is wounded, here is how to treat a cut on a dog.

How to Treat a Cut on a Dog

Use this step by step guide to treat your dog if they get a wound:

Step 1: Assess and Stop Any Bleeding

Before you can answer "What can I put on my dog's cut?" you need to ask yourself, "Is the wound bleeding?" If the wound is oozing blood, then you can apply gentle pressure with a small towel or gauze square, depending on the size of the wound. Ask your dog to sit or lie down, and hold the towel in place over the wound with your hand with just enough pressure to stop the bleeding. If the dog is calm, most wounds will clot and stop bleeding within a couple of minutes. If the dog is excited, then it will take longer because of high blood pressure. If the wound is pumping blood, that means a larger blood vessel has been cut, and you will need to keep pressure on the wound until you get to a veterinary clinic.

Step 2: Clean

If the wound has debris in it, like mud or leaves, flush the wound with a generous amount of lukewarm tap water to rinse dirt and bacteria off the surface of the wound.

Step 3: Disinfect the Wound

This brings us to the million dollar question: "What can I put on my dog's cut?"

Dilute betadine is an excellent disinfectant to keep in your first-aid kit. A good alternative to betadine is diluted chlorhexidine. Hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean the wound because it is very damaging to skin cells, and can actually delay wound healing.

Start by applying disinfectant to the wound. If it is a bite wound, squirt disinfectant into the puncture hole to flush out bacteria and contact your veterinarian for advice as bite wounds are more likely to develop secondary infections. After the wound is cleaned and disinfected, apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment to the surface of the wound.

What Can I Put on My Dog's Cut: Additional Precautions

It's important to deal with cuts and scrapes early to avoid infection. If you wait too long to treat a wound, then it can become a much bigger, more painful problem that takes longer to heal and requires additional expensive treatment.

Dogs that are wounded are hurt and scared, and may react aggressively out of fear. Before you ask yourself how to treat a cut on a dog, ask yourself if you should. Only attempt to take care of your dog's wound at home if you are confident that your dog won't bite anyone who tries to help. Use a muzzle (you can make one at home) and get somebody to help you. When treating a wound yourself, it is important to stay calm as your dog can pick up on your stress.

When to See a Vet

How do you know when you need to take your dog to the vet and when you can treat a cut at home? Here are the types of injuries that need veterinary attention:

Bite wounds as they're likely to get infected
Deep cuts that fully penetrate the skin
Cuts longer than an inch
Cuts that the dog won't leave alone
Cuts that don't heal within a week
Cuts that look infected (redness, heat, swelling, discharge that looks like pus, odor)
Any injury that leaves your dog acting sick (excessive tiredness, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, etc.)
Anything wound you are unsure or worried about

If you've treated the wound adequately, it should heal in less than a week. Anything that takes longer than that or shows signs of infection should be addressed by a vet. If you follow these simply steps, you'll be ready to play nurse the next time your pup gets hurt. Your dog and your vet with thank you for practicing good hygiene and safety when it comes to treating wounds at home.

Contributor Bio

Dr. Sarah Wooten

A 2002 graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sarah Wooten is a well-known international speaker in the veterinary and animal health care spaces. She has 10 years experience in public speaking and media work, and writes for a large number of online and print animal health publications.. Dr. Wooten has spoken in the veterinary education space for 5 years, and speaks on leadership, client communication, and personal development. Dr. Wooten is also a certified veterinary journalist, a member of the AVMA, and has 16 years experience in small animal veterinary practice. In addition to being a speaker, author, veterinarian, and co-creator of the wildly popular card game 'Vets Against Insanity', she co-owns Elevated Eateries Restaurant group in Greeley with her husband of 22 years, and together they are raising 3 slightly feral mini-humans. When it is time to play, she can be found skiing in Colorado or diving with sharks in the Caribbean.

Go big...or go home. To learn more, visit drsarahwooten.com.

First Aid for Eye Scratches

By Kierstan Boyd and

Dan Gudgel

Published Mar. 09, 2022

Housework andsportsare two of the most common causes of eye injuries. But evencookingor playing with your dog or cat can get you a scratched eye. You might have symptoms right away or the symptoms may start or get worse hours after the injury.

What Does a Scratched Eye Feel Like?

Some common symptoms of a scratched eye include:

If you've scratched the white part of your eye, you may see a spot of blood, a scratched line or an area of general redness on your conjunctiva or sclera.

If you've scratched or scraped your cornea the clear, round dome at the front of the eye, that covers the irisandpupil you may experience more severe symptoms:

This is called a corneal abrasion and it can permanently affect your vision. It's important to see anophthalmologist right away. If you're in a lot of pain, are having any trouble seeing or are worried about your eye, go to the emergency room.

Can a Scratched Eye Heal on its Own?

Sometimes. Most corneal abrasions and eye scratches are minor and will heal on their own in a few days, but it's always a good idea to see a doctor for an eye exam.

It's important not to use any eye drops without first asking a doctor. There are no over-the-counter eye drops specifically for eye scratches. Your ophthalmologist maytreat an eye scratchwith antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Steroid eye drops may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and reduce the chance of scarring. You may also be given lubricating eye drops to make you more comfortable.

How Should I Treat an Eye Scratch or Scrape?

Here are some do's and don'ts when caring for an eye scratch:

Do rinse your eye with saline solution or clean water.If you don't have an eyecup, use a small, clean glass. Rest the rim of the glass on the bone at the base of your eye socket, below your lower eyelid. The water or saline solution may flush the foreign object from your eye.
Do blink.Blinking can help get rid of small bits of dust or sand in your eye.
Do pull your upper eyelid over your lower eyelid.The lashes from your lower eyelid may be able to brush away any foreign object caught underneath your upper eyelid.
Do wear sunglasses.If your eye is sensitive to light because of the scratch, sunglasses will make you more comfortable while you heal.
Don't rub your eye.Rubbing your eye can make the scratch worse.
Don't touch your eye with anything.Fingers, cotton swabs and other objects won't help remove any foreign objects and could hurt your eye more. The object that caused the scratch may be gone even though you still feel like something is in your eye.
Don't wear your contact lenses.Wearing yourcontact lenseswill slow the healing process and could cause complications, like contact lens-related infections.
Don't use redness-relieving eye drops. Over-the-counter redness-reducing eye drops can be painful if you have an eye scratch and they wont help you heal any faster.

How Long Does a Scratched Eye Take to Heal?

Eyes often heal very quickly, so an eye scratch may heal faster than a cut on your skin would. But each scratch is different and theres no way to predict exactly how long it will take for an eye scratch to heal. Your ophthalmologist can tell you what to expect after they've examined your eye.

Ask your eye doctor these questions during your appointment: