Wash your hands
Muzzle the dog if needed for safety
Stop any bleeding with gentle pressure using clean gauze
Trim fur around the wound if needed
Rinse the wound with sterile saline or clean lukewarm water
Remove visible dirt with clean tweezers
Clean the area with diluted chlorhexidine or diluted povidone-iodine
Avoid hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or harsh soaps
Pat the wound dry with clean gauze
Apply a pet-safe antibiotic ointment if advised by a veterinarian
Cover the wound with a sterile non-stick dressing if needed
Change the dressing daily or when wet or dirty
Prevent licking or chewing with an e-collar
Monitor for swelling, redness, pus, bad odor, or worsening pain
Contact a veterinarian for deep, large, bleeding, puncture, or infected wounds