Wounds heal in steps, and many things can slow them down. A 2026 review of wound care in small animals describes repair as a series of phases that often overlap, and notes that a fresh wound left without proper care can turn into a long-lasting one that stalls [1]. For the stages themselves, see how wounds heal in dogs and cats.
If your pet’s wound is not getting better, see your vet. Your vet can look for the cause and change the plan.
For signs that a wound is infected and for basic wound care, see minor wound care for dogs and cats.
Three kinds of causes
It helps to sort the things that slow healing into three groups:
- at the wound: pressure, rubbing and poor blood flow to the spot;
- the pet’s own health: long-term illness, diet and weight;
- outside factors: some medicines, radiation, and what is put on the wound.
At the wound: pressure, blood flow and bandages
Healing tissue needs a good blood supply. When blood flow to an area drops, less oxygen reaches it, and the body makes less collagen and fights infection less well [3].
- Pressure: pressure that is too strong or uneven can injure skin and the tissue under it, most of all where blood flow is already poor [2]. For wounds caused by pressure, see pressure sores in dogs and cats.
- Rubbing and dragging: a review of wound dressings warns that pressure, shear (skin pulled one way while the tissue below moves another) and tape can all hurt the skin under a dressing [2].
- Oxygen: tissue that lacks oxygen heals poorly; this is why some human clinics use oxygen treatment for wounds with a poor blood supply [2].
A bandage that is too tight is one way to add pressure. For other bandage problems, see bandages on dogs and cats.
Your pet’s own health
A wound heals as well as the body behind it. Researchers mostly study these factors in people and lab animals, but the same body processes apply to pets.
- Nutrition: a review of nutrition and wound repair says a diet with enough vitamins and minerals matters for healing, above all when poor nutrition or long-term illness is present [4]. A lack of iron, for example, has been tied to slower skin healing [4].
- Kidney disease: uremia, the buildup of waste in the blood when the kidneys fail, has been known for decades to hold back wound healing, partly because of the waste products themselves [5].
- Obesity: fat tissue has a weaker blood supply, so wounds in heavy patients tend to get less oxygen [3].
- Diabetes: diabetes, poor nutrition and long-term corticosteroid use can all weaken the late stage of healing [2].
Medicines and other treatments
- Corticosteroids: long-term use can slow the final stage of repair [2].
- Radiation: skin and tissue that have had radiation can heal poorly, and wounds there may need special care [2].
- Antiseptics: the small-animal review notes that common wound antiseptics can also harm the skin’s own repair cells, more so at higher strength or with longer contact, so vets limit them to the first cleaning [1]. Put nothing on a wound unless your vet advises it.
Tell your vet about every medicine and treatment your pet gets. Do not stop or change a medicine on your own; your vet can tell you whether it matters for the wound.
How vets help a slow wound
Your vet will check the wound and your pet’s overall health, and may look for the causes above. After first aid and cleaning, the vet looks at the wound to decide whether to close it or let it heal open [1]. A wound can look small on the surface and still hide damage deeper down, so a vet check matters. Your vet decides what tests and treatment your pet needs.
At home, as directed by a vet:
- tell your vet about every medicine, treatment and supplement your pet gets;
- feed your pet the way your vet advises;
- care for any bandage only in the way your vet shows you, and tell your vet if it seems tight;
- go back for every recheck.
When to see your vet
See your vet if your dog or cat has:
- a wound that is not getting better [1];
- a bandage that seems too tight [2];
- a wound over a spot that takes pressure, such as when lying down [2];
- any wound, if it also has kidney disease or gets corticosteroids or cancer treatment, so your vet can watch the healing [2][5].
FAQ
Why is my pet’s wound healing so slowly?
There can be many reasons, such as poor blood flow to the area [3], pressure on the spot [2], poor nutrition [4] or an illness such as kidney disease [5]. Your vet can look for the cause.
Should I stop my pet’s medicine so the wound heals?
No, not on your own. Some medicines, such as long-term corticosteroids, can slow healing [2], but your vet decides whether any change is right for your pet.
Can I put an antiseptic on it?
Ask your vet first. Antiseptics can harm healing cells, more so when strong or left on long [1].
The bottom line
Wounds heal in stages, and many things can slow them: problems at the wound (pressure, poor blood flow, tight bandages), the pet’s health (poor nutrition, kidney disease, obesity, diabetes) and outside factors (some medicines, radiation, and antiseptics used the wrong way). If a wound is not getting better, see your vet, and tell your vet about every medicine your pet takes rather than stopping any on your own.
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your pet’s wound is not healing, see your vet.
Sources
- Santos JKVRS, Costa EDS, Fernandes CCL, et al. Integrative Therapies in Wound Healing in Small Animals: An Approach Beyond Traditional Medicine. Veterinary Sciences. 2026;13:418. CC BY. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13050418
- Quick J, Powell L, Syal A, et al. An Update on Post-Surgical Wound Healing Management and Lower-Cost Alternatives: A Narrative Review for Healthcare Providers. Health Science Reports. 2026;9(10). CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.73353
- Pierpont YN, Dinh TP, Salas RE, et al. Obesity and Surgical Wound Healing: A Current Review. ISRN Obesity. 2014;2014:638936. CC BY. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/638936
- Stanescu C, Chiscop I, Mihalache D, et al. The Roles of Micronutrition and Nutraceuticals in Enhancing Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration: A Systematic Review. Molecules. 2025;30:3568. CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173568
- Kaminska M, Kałucka U, Babickova J, et al. Bradykinin’s carbamylation as a mechanistic link to impaired wound healing in patients with kidney dysfunction. BMC Biology. 2025;23:76. CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02187-x