Isopropyl Alcohol (or rubbing alcohol): If ingested by pets, isopropyl alcohol can cause vomiting, disorientation, incoordination, and in severe cases, collapse, respiratory depression and seizures. Rubbing alcohol should not be used at home on a pet's skin.
Apply a non-stinging antiseptic solution to the area. Chlorhexidine is cheap, extremely effective, and readily available. A 2% solution limits tissue irritation, but 4% solutions are also commonly used. Povidone-iodine solution is another good option.
You can use an antimicrobial skin cleanser like Hibiscrub chlorhexidine gluconate to clean your dog's skin or to treat light wounds.
No, alcohol wipes are not safe for dogs, or other pets. In fact, Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol) which is contained in alcohol wipes, if ingested is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, disorientation, incoordination, and in severe cases, collapse, respiratory depression and seizures.
Do not use harsh cleaners or apply hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or other caustic cleaning products to your dog's skin as these can be painful or even cause the wound to take longer to heal.
Natural antiseptics include turmeric, coconut oil, aloe vera and witch hazel. For a spicy antiseptic concoction that will also help with inflammation—and prevent licking, because most dogs don't love the smell—mix turmeric from your spice cabinet with aloe vera in a 1:1 ratio and smooth it on the scrape.
Dettol Can Be Toxic To Animals.
This sounds obvious, but many owners will be unaware that things they think can help their dog will in fact do more harm than good. For example, he says you should never put anything on your dog's wound. Antiseptics such as Savlon, Dettol and similar products should never be used! They are far too harsh, he said.
Is Dettol dangerous to pets? Dettol contains phenol chloroxylenol, which is dangerous for all animals but especially cats, because felines are unable to eliminate toxins following ingestion, according to vets at Erina Heights Vet Hospital in Gosford.
To apply betadine on your dog, gently wipe the wound with a washcloth saturated with the betadine solution. You can do this up to twice a day for minor sores or skin infections. One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested.
Betadine is an over-the-counter topical antiseptic meant to reduce the number of microorganisms on the skin. It contains povidone-iodine, which is a potent antiseptic. For many reasons, veterinarian surgeons use it when preparing the skin for surgery. It is also great for dog wounds.
Use a mild soap and water solution and rinse the area well. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, as these can actually delay healing. Once the wound is clean, you will want to apply an antibiotic ointment or cream. This will help to prevent infection and will also help the wound heal faster.
Keeping Fleas and Ticks Away
To make your own flea and tick repellent, mix one part vinegar with one part water and spray it on your pet's fur. You can also add a few drops of vinegar to your pet's drinking water to help repel fleas and ticks from the inside out. Morgan recommends one teaspoon per quart of water.
Using tweezers or hemostats, simply pluck the tick as close to the skin where it is attached. If your pet's hair is long, you may saturate the area with alcohol to better see where the tick is attached to the skin. Do not squeeze the body of the tick as you remove it.
Alcohols are one of the most popular antiseptic and disinfecting products, used every day in veterinary clinics and laboratories. Although many alcohols are germicidal, the two most commonly used as disinfecting agents are ethyl and isopropyl alcohol.
Humans commonly use wound sprays, but experts advised that our pets, most likely dogs, can also use them. Wound cleansers remove crust or clotted dressings from wounds. Wound sprays are alcohol-free, making them best to use by dogs.
Antibiotic ointment
Commonly used by humans for minor cuts or scrapes, this would be a personal care product that may be shared with our furkids with similar types of injuries. Some examples of this ointment would be Bepanthen First Aid Cream, Neosporin Original Ointment or Dermacyn WoundCare Hydrogel.
Sudocrem. This can be used in dogs and cats in small amounts. Sudocrem contains zinc-oxide which is highly toxic to birds. Zinc-oxide is also toxic to dogs and cats if ingested in large quantities, but applying a thin layer of sudocrem to sore or irritated skin is generally safe and can be beneficial.
Although products containing low concentrations of tea tree oil are not expected to be a problem in pets, the use of pure tea tree oil directly on the skin is potentially very serious in pets and should never be used. Exposure may cause ataxia, salivation, lethargy, coma and tremor.
What should I clean the wound with? Warm tap water is recommended for cleaning most wounds. Warm saline (salt solution) may also be used. This may be made by adding approximately one level teaspoonful (5 mL) of salt (or Epsom salts) to two cups (500 mL) of water.
One of the best ways to help is to use an apple cider vinegar bath for dogs. The acidity in the vinegar helps balance the pH of the skin, while its antiseptic and antibacterial properties help resolve skin infections naturally. It also helps calm skin irritations and inflammation to help dogs feel better.