Bandages Bandaging a wound on your dog can be enough to stop your dog wanting to lick the wound, as it's often a case of out of sight out of mind. Tip - You want to ensure that the bandage is on firmly but not too tight, that it is comfortable for your dog and they are able to move around easily.
Sometimes making changes in your dog's environment can subside their need to lick. This often helps dogs who are suffering from psychological distress. Antibiotics or anti-lick creams may also help your dog find temporary relief. Wraps and hock socks are two other ways you can protect your dog's paws and legs as well.
Itchiness caused by an allergy or certain type of food is often the wrongdoer, but excessive licking can also be caused by pain somewhere in your dog's body. This is often the case for older dogs with arthrosis. In addition, there could be a behavioral cause, such as stress or anxiety.
Acral lick dermatitis is a skin condition that's pretty common in dogs. Also known as acral lick granulomas, this condition occurs when dogs continually lick an area of their skin, leading to redness and loss of hair.
Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound. Triple antibiotic ointments containing bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B are widely available. AVOID any product that contains a corticosteroid like hydrocortisone.
Licking might offer some protection against certain bacteria, but there are serious drawbacks to letting your dog lick wounds. Excessive licking can lead to irritation, paving the way for hot spots, infections, and potential self-mutilation. Licking and chewing can also slow healing by reopening wounds.
Simply speaking, no, you shouldn't allow your dog to lick your wound under any circumstances. Your dog's mouth is often a dirty place. Licking can introduce bacteria, which can lead to infections. Licking can also irritate your wound more since a dog's tongue isn't exactly the gentlest thing to rub on your wound.
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.
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.
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.
Savlon's Antiseptic cream is a form of topical medication that can be used for minor-wound care and cuts. It helps with the healing process and prevents infections from developing. If there is a scrape or cut on your dog's skin, you should be able to use this over-the-counter antiseptic cream as a one-off.
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.
In order to help keep the gauze in place, wrap your pup's entire foot in a self-sticking bandage such as Vetwrap or Well & Good. These wraps are available at most well-stocked pet supply stores and some brands even come coated in bitter flavoring to discourage your dog from chewing the bandage.
Soothing shampoos (aloe or oatmeal based). Wiping off your dog's paws and belly after a walk, to remove pollen and other potential allergens. Hydrocortisone cream is usually okay to apply for a few days directly on the rash. Just be sure your dog doesn't lick and ingest it (an Elizabethan collar can help).
Topical antibacterial soaps and shampoos can help such as KetoChlor Shampoo or Malapet Shampoo. It is often necessary to shampoo pets once to twice a week, while also using any prescribed antibiotic therapy for maximal chances of recovery. We'll contact your Vet to verify.
Bacitracin is a safe and effective antibiotic for treating bacterial infections in dogs, particularly after surgery. Its use has been shown to reduce the risk of infections and positive bacteria cultures.
Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as these can damage the tissue and delay healing. Cover up the wound with a bandage. Apply a small amount of antibacterial ointment and cover the wound with a piece of sterile gauze or other bandage. Use the elastic tape to hold the bandage in place.
Vaseline
It's gratifying to know that you want to help your dog's skin issues by applying Vaseline to their cuts, scrapes, and wounds, but it's a completely synthetic material, and it's no good for them.
Can You Put a Band-Aid on a Dog? Putting a bandaid on a dog is not recommended as the adhesive can cause skin irritation and infections. Instead, try using non-stick pads or gauze and tape to protect the wound. Seek advice from your veterinarian for proper wound care.
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.
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.
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.
Iodine (betadine) is a valuable aid in the treatment of hot spots, skin irritations, small cuts and grazes, and itchy paws.