Dog wounds can range from simple to life threatening. Regardless of their severity, you need to know how to treat them. Any wound can worsen, which can lead to serious problems with the dog’s health. For your Shih Tzu's wellness, learn how to administer basic treatments.

1. Understand the Wound

Not all wounds are the same. To figure out the type of treatment that you must provide, you have to first figure out the type of wound it is. Basic treatment that you can do from home only works on less severe cases. If you find that the wound is deep or that there is internal damage, you should seek out professional help from a veterinarian. Veterinarians can manage severe cases that require specialized equipment and knowledge. In these cases, this is the only way to save the dog’s life or to give him or her the best chance at survival.

If there is major damage, do not do anything to treat Shih Tzu yourself. Do what you can to keep the dog as comfortable as possible while you transport him or her to the veterinarian's office. Wasting time on your own treatments could do more harm than good.

2. Find the Wound

Once you've determined the severity of the wound, look for the source. Cuts, scrapes, and other small wounds should become visible. To make them visible, cut the hair around the wound. Shave or clip it so that you can easily see the wound without any hair obstructing your view.

Make sure that you stop any bleeding before doing this. You want to make sure that the bleeding has stopped and that it is now safe to begin trimming.

3. Clean It

The next step is to clean the wound. Flush out the wound, then use an antiseptic cleaner. If there is any dry blood or debris around the wound, make sure to clean that off, too. You want to reduce the presence of bacteria, and you want to improve the healing time of the wound.

4. Dress It

Put ointment on the bruise and then roll gauze on the area. Do not roll too tightly, however, as that may affect circulation. Keep it comfortably snug.

5. A Healthy Diet

Part of healing is eating a healthy diet. During the healing time, you may want to give your dog a diet rich in immune-boosting foods.

5 Steps To Keep Your Wounded Shih Tzu Healthy

2. Find the Wound