How to Treat 4 Common Canine Skin Injuries and Irritations
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There are quite a few ways that your beloved pooch can get hurt, especially when it comes to skin injuries and irritations. From minor cuts and burns, to scrapes and allergic reactions, knowing what can cause these problems and how you can provide immediate treatment at home will help prevent them from escalating. Here are the 4 top canine skin injuries and irritations:
- Hot Spots
- Pad Problems
- Burns
- Eye & Ear Irritations
Read on for details on what to do if it happens to your dog.
Hot Spots
Hot spots are moist, painful, red, irritated, and—you guessed it—hot lesions that can develop on a dog’s skin, usually on the chest, hip, or head. They can grow rather quickly, especially if your dog ends up chewing, scratching, or licking them, which can cause further irritation.
A hot spot could be caused by anything that ends up irritating your pet’s skin, forcing them to lick or scratch themselves. Some common causes include insects and mites, fleas, underlying skin infections, allergies, and poor grooming. However, if your dog is bored or stressed and constantly chewing or licking their skin, a hot spot could also develop. Hot spots are also more common during humid, warm weather, so you might notice your dog dealing with this irritation during the summer, which is also when insects and fleas are prevalent
Pad Problems
In addition to keeping an eye on your dog’s skin to ensure it isn’t irritated or injured, you should also check their paws, especially when the weather is hot and you take your dog for a walk, as the hot asphalt can burn your pet’s pads. But you also want to be sure you check your dog’s pads during the winter, when the harsh temperatures, snow, ice, and salt can also take their toll, causing frostbite.
Burns
Rambunctious dogs can sometimes end up hurting themselves, and those injuries could involve burns. Everything from boiling liquids, open flames, and electric heating pads, to strong chemicals, heat lamps, and hot metal surfaces can cause your dog’s skin to burn. Dogs can even suffer from sunburn.
Like other injuries, your dog will likely try to lick itself in an effort to soothe its skin and keep the wound clean. However, you will need to step in and provide first aid care to bring her relief and ensure proper healing.
Eye and Ear Irritants
In addition to superficial skin irritants, there are also eye and ear irritants that can affect your dog.
Eye irritation could be caused by infections, allergies, foreign bodies, malformed eyelashes or hair in the eyes, chemical irritation, or scratches. Ear irritants could include infections caused by yeast or bacteria, excessive hair, wax, moisture, allergies, foreign bodies, and mites.
A Few Products to Provide At-Home Care
Vetericyn products are recommended by expert veterinarians, and they don’t contain any ingredients that would be harmful to your dog. In addition to being non-toxic, they’re easy to administer, so you can quickly give your dog much-needed relief from skin irritation and injuries.
Here are a few of the Vetericyn Plus products that can help you give your dog first aid care in the case of hot spots, pad problems, burns, and more:
- Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Wound Care can be used on your dog’s skin to completely clean out a range of wounds, including scratches, cuts, and abrasions.
- Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Hot Spot Gel is available in a convenient gel form, allowing you to provide your pet’s skin with a protective barrier that can help manage hot spots and skin irritations. It is also helpful on post-surgical sites, as well as on wound beds, in hard-to-reach locations, and for wound dressings.
- Vetericyn Paw 'N Snout Pet Balm has lick-safe ingredients that help moisturize and relieve dry, chapped skin on dog's noses, paws, and elbows. The balm also works great to protect noses and paws from the elements.
- Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Eye Wash is ideal for use when you notice your dog’s eye is irritated. Rest assured that this product is formulated to be safe for use in and around the eyes. Use it to clean the eyes and alleviate irritation caused by foreign debris.
- Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Ear Rinse can be applied daily to help maintain your dog’s clean ears and reduce the risk of irritation. It can even be used to flush, clean, and care for wounds and irritations that occur within your dog’s ear canal and outer ear, and you can also use it to clean ears affected by irritants like pollutants or contaminants.
If you notice your dog exhibiting symptoms of skin irritation or an injury, act quickly to provide your pet with relief. Remember, when wounds are cleaned and when they’re kept moist, faster healing can be achieved. However, if you’re dealing with a severe wound, it’s always recommended that you consult with your veterinarian right away.
Hot Spots: Moist, red lesions from irritation, allergies, or stress; treat with Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Gel.
Pad Problems: Burns or frostbite from extreme weather; check paws regularly.
Burns: Caused by heat, chemicals, or sunburn; provide first aid to prevent licking.
Eye/Ear Irritants: Use Vetericyn Plus Eye Wash or Ear Rinse for infections or debris.
Reviewed by Dan Richardson, Veterinarian
Dan Richardson has been a practicing veterinarian for over 10 years. He specializes in surgery and orthopedics. Dan is originally from rural western Nevada and attended the University of Idaho for undergraduate study and Oregon State University for Veterinary School. The Richardson Family enjoys camping and spending time on the water fishing, paddle boarding, or digging their feet in the sand somewhere warm. LinkedIn
