How To Treat Shock Collar Wounds? 5 Steps

Last Updated/Info Checked on October 23, 2023 by Linda Michaels

Shock collars only cause wounds when it is used excessively.

The prongs transmit shock to the skin.

I’ve seen owners mistakenly or otherwise use the highest level, not caring how hot it is, and ending up hurting their dogs.

That’s also one of the other reasons why your dog may have shock collar wounds. Worry not, however.

I’m here to share what I did when I was hired to train a Doberman with these wounds. 

Here’s how to treat shock collar wounds:

1. Remove the collar and wash the area. 
2. Treat the wound with a cloth immersed in warm water.
3. Use antibacterial ointment after drying it. 
4. You may use over-the-counter pain meds to relieve pain and swelling. 
5. See a vet if things remain bad. 

5 Steps To Treat Small Wounds Caused By A Shock Collar 

Let me share with you step by step method to treat small wounds caused by a shock collar.

1. Get Rid Of The Collar Immediately 

So the client’s main worry was the Doberman’s heightened discomfort even on small levels.

She had panicked and not touched the collar because the dog, named Terry, was in great pain. I went there immediately and the first thing I did was remove the collar. 

Beneath it was two small bruises of the size of the prongs. Upon closer examination, they were small holes. I could see puss shimmering from the inside. The dog wouldn’t let me even touch that area, even though we had secured him. 

2. Treat The Wound With Cloth Soaked In Warm Water 

The next step I did was clean the wound gently with warm water. I also dipped a cloth and kept it on the neck to soothe the pain immediately.

I could see the relief on the face of the dog. He felt relieved and opened his eyes for the first time I was there. 

Seeing that, I kept the cloth on the wound. 

3. Use Antibacterial Ointment For Quick Sanitization 

The owner had Neosporin in the house. I dried the wound and applied this antibacterial ointment. Use any that could help with initial healing.

However, make sure that the ingredients do not have hydrocortisone or anything remotely related to steroids. 

They slow down the healing process and that’s the last thing you’ll want. 

4. Use Otc Meds To Relieve Pain 

iBrufen worked great in easing the dog’s pain. We wrapped it in a treat and gave it to him, which he obliged to eat after such a strenuous day.

Later when the meds kicked in, the dog got up and started doing his usual things. However, there was caution and fear in his actions. 

I sensed that the wounds were still very painful for him and that first aid wouldn’t solve the problem. 

In your case, if the wound isn’t too deep, you could use aloe vera and tea tree oil for swelling and pain relief. 

5. See A Vet 

After the first aid, I advised the owner to take him to a vet for a thorough examination. Later I inquired and the owner told me that the vet treated the wound further with antiseptic liquids and ointments.

The wound was then wrapped with a gauze dressing and sealed off for recovery. She also had indicated pain meds and oral antibiotics. 

The dog’s wounds healed after two to three weeks. The vet had told the owner that it had gone septic.

In other words, there was some sort of smelly discharge when the vet pressured the area. Terry also had a fever.

How To Stop The Collar From Wounding The Dog?

1. Do not use it for more than 6 hours. Always remove the collar at night before going to bed.
2. Make sure that the dog could bear the shock level. One way to do that is to use the collar on your arm to see if the level is too hot. 
3. Do not use the collar in the same place every day. Move it around the neck so that one place doesn’t get affected. 
4. Use aloe vera on the prongs and on the neck to minimize the effects of the prongs. 
5. Use silicone prongs to administer stimulation. 
6. Plastic prongs do not conduct electricity. If you think you could accidentally zap the dog, use the plastic prongs. They will only send vibration and sound but not shocks. 
7. Use the collar only for correcting behavior and not punishing the dog. Also, make sure that you incorporate obedience training with the collar and use plenty of treats for positive reinforcement. 
8. When the dog learns to associate a command with the collar, halt its use.
9. Do not use the collar on a wet dog.

How Does A Shock Collar Cause Injury?

A shock collar has two contact points, those little stubs when you look at the back of the wearable, that cause hot spots on the dog’s skin because of continuous rubbing for a long time.

That’s one of the reasons why we trainers don’t recommend you leave it for a prolonged time, especially, when the dog is wet. A wet surface can further degrade the problem by transmitting the shock more radically to the skin, thus, breaking it down further until there’s a painful sore or even holes in some cases.

It’s not just leaving the collar that causes injury, but also stimulating the skin unnecessarily.

Therefore, make a point in your mind to only use the static stimulation feature when push comes to shove.

I always recommend owners start with a beep, then move on to vibration to correct negative group or individual behaviors. When things don’t work out only then should they use the static shock, but that too, starting from the base up.

How To Treat Shock Collar Wounds – Conclusion 

If the wounds are not too deep, you could treat them with an over-the-counter antiseptic liquid. It’s available in the first aid kits.

Use a cloth soaked in warm water to soothe the dog. Then, feed the dog iBuprofen for pain and swelling relief.

If the wounds are too deep, you may want to visit the vet for better treatment. When the dog heals, make sure that you don’t use the collar until you’ve mended your ways with it.