Dog First Aid Treatments for Burns and Canine Scalds
Flames from house, brush, and forest fires are just one type of burn that can affect your dog. A dog's hair coat is extremely flammable and most dogs have not been taught that ever-important fire safety phrase: 'Stop, Drop, and Roll'. This means you need to be especially careful to prevent dog burns and canine scalds from occurring in the first place.
Dog Danger Zones
Accidents in the kitchen, especially with new puppies, are not uncommon. Canine Scalding with hot liquids or oils or even touching a hot pot by accident can cause a serious thermal burn. Heating pads used to warm up new puppy litters can cause radiant heat burns that are similar to sunburn.
Curious puppies chewing on electrical cords can end up with electrical burns that destroy the puppys skin as well as the deeper tissues.
Smoke inhalation can cause canine lung damage and respiratory distress that may be apparent immediately, or not until 24 hours later.
Dogs with severe and extensive burns can go into shock as a result of the fluid loss and decreased blood flow that occurs through the surface of burned skin.
TIP: Apply cool water to minor dog burns.
WARNING: Always contact a veterinarian as soon as possible whenever your pet may have suffered anything other than a minor burn. Many dogs may look fine initially after being burned or scalded but become distressed within the next 24 hours.
Dog Burns and Canine Scalds Therapy: What Dog Owners And Vets Can Do
For minor dog burns, cool water soaks with loose-fitting gauze bandages often suffice.
More severe burns should be seen by your vet as soon as possible. The prognosis of a dog burn depends on the percentage of canine skin affected, the depth and location of the burn as well as the dog's age and overall health status. Treatment is geared to address shock, replace fluids, maintain breathing, cool the skin, and reduce pain. Cleaning the area removes dead tissue and debris. Antibiotics reduce the risk of infection and proper dog nutrition counteracts protein and fluid losses. Burns involving more than 50 percent of the dogs skin surface carry a poor prognosis. In many cases euthanasia must be considered.
