Pets are prone to mishaps. Maybe your French bulldog got in a tussle with a German shepherd at doggie daycare and has a few little scratches now, or maybe your adventurous pooch ran a little to hard over some shard rocks and scraped up its paws. Whatever the case, there are some useful home remedies for minor pet wounds. Of course, serious wounds should be seen as quickly as possible by the vet. If the wound is minor, check out this list for a in-depth look at the different products that you can use on all of your kids -- including the ones with fur.
- Saline
- Chlorhexidine
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Turmeric
Saline Solutions
Saline, or a mixture of salt and water, is commonly used to treat dry eyes and keep contact lenses fresh, but it is also a valuable (and pet-safe) tool for cleaning wounds.
Saline is typically the most basic go-to product for treating minor injuries like cuts, scrapes, and bites. Salt has antibacterial properties, which will help to clean the wound and promote healthy healing. Saline solutions are also very easy to get and use -- you can find them in first aid kits, or you can even use a contact solution of just make your own salt and water solution.
Experts advise pet owners to use a liberal amount of solution -- and to just keep washing. Squirt the solution out from a syringe onto the wound, and keep doing so until it looks clean. Saline is not the strongest disinfectant, but it can wash away all of the contaminants surrounding the open wound. Pet owners can make their own solution by boiling one cup of water, stirring in and dissolving a half a teaspoon of salt, and then allowing the mixture to cool.
Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine is a topical antiseptic medication often sold through brands like Biopatch, ChloraPrep, and Hibistat.
This common disinfectant is indeed safe for pets. Though it is often sold in 2% and 4% solutions, Fauna Care recommends using a lower concentration on pets to be safe. The lower concentration -- like 0.5% or 1% -- will still kill the bacteria and yeast that often infect pet wounds, and it will be gentler on the animal’s skin and fur.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Yes, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean out your pet’s open wounds. There’s one catch: make sure to dilute it with water.
Hydrogen peroxide is a staple in most medicine cabinets, and is often a first-line of action for cleaning human wounds and preventing infection. However, some are uneasy when it comes to using hydrogen peroxide on pets because if the peroxide is too highly concentrated, it can damage tissues. This is the case with any solution however, even a saline one, and a too-highly concentrated solution can put your pet through unnecessary pain.
To prevent your pet from feeling more pain than it might already be in with a wound, take the time to create a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution. For each part of 3% hydrogen peroxide, use 3 parts water -- you could mix one tablespoon of 3% strength hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons of water, to keep it simple.
Turmeric
This common cooking ingredient has anti-inflammatory agents. Who knew?
Next time you’re going through your pantry and spice cabinet, hold onto the turmeric, even if you only cook with it a few times per year. This product has many health benefits -- especially for dogs!
You can actually sprinkle turmeric on your dog’s food to help promote certain internal benefits such as soothing sore joints and arthritis, aiding digestion, and detoxifying the liver. When it comes wound healing, a turmeric paste is the best route to take. This can be used for topical application, and serves as an anti-inflammatory product, which can also aid in reducing pain and swelling. Turmeric paste can even serve as a disinfectant as well.
You can make a turmeric paste at home by mixing a quarter cup of turmeric with a half a cup of water, and stirring it together in a pan -- keep it on low heat until it is all mixed. Be sure to let the paste cool down and harden a bit before applying -- put it in the fridge to speed up this process. If you add a bit of raw honey, you can ramp up this mixture’s anti-microbial benefits.
No one wants to see their pet in pain, but thankfully there are options right in your own home to help treat your puppy’s wounds. Next time the dog comes home from daycare with a scratch, head straight for the turmeric, saline, peroxide, or chlorhexidine! Just be sure that your pal doesn’t need to see a vet, and don’t be afraid to apply pressure when necessary.
