Just like in humans, the skin is the largest organ in your dog or cat’s body, and heat, chemicals and electrical sources can cause it great harm. Second and third degree burns are highly susceptible to infection since many layers of tissue have been destroyed. A visit to your Veterinarian is in order, but cooling the skin is essential and should be done slowly over a 30-minute period.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES/CAUSES:

  • Be aware of ever-present dangers…when you have a dog or cat, you have an inquisitive furry toddler for life.
  • Cats love heat and will lounge on surfaces well over 100º F; this includes your oven, stove and clothes dryer.
  • Beware when removing pots and pans from still-hot burners by preventing Fluffy from jumping up, and never pass hot plates or liquids over your pet’s head. Also, think twice about stepping over pets, especially with anything in your hands, as it is Murphy’s Law that when you step over your pet will stand up!
  • Candles, even on counter tops, can be toppled by or burn cats who jump up high.
  • Outdoor cook-outs are tempting to Fido, so never turn your back while food is cooking or even when it isn’t as the smell coming from hot coals and grills lasts a long time.
  • Supervise pets around fire pits/camp fires, fireplaces and heat sources of all types — electric heaters, furnaces, hot pavement, even beach sand during the peak of summer.
  • Too much sun can burn the muzzle, ear tips, back or belly, especially on breeds without a thick undercoat. A shorter summer trim is fine but never shave your pet as fur protects his skin from the harsh sun.
  • Beach sand, sidewalks and asphalt can burn paws…if you can’t walk on it barefoot, it’s too hot for your pets!
  • Anything hot to the touch — if you could get burned, so could your dog or cat!

 

 

First Degree Burns

Skin appears pink to dark pink or red (usually sunburn on the snout, ears or belly skin), could be slightly swollen

NOTE: Thermal burns start out sterile as heat kills bacteria. Take care not to contaminate wounds by trying to “clean” or cover with non-sterile materials.

 

WHAT TO DO:

The first goal is to cool the pink skin with room temperature water (not ice water which restricts circulation).

Pat dry and apply pure aloe vera gel to promote healing after carefully trimming fur away with blunt-nosed scissors.

If skin is unbroken, home care should suffice by holding a cold pack (NOT ice) over the wound for another 20 minutes and observing that it heals while preventing your pet from obsessive licking or scratching the injured area.

Second Degree Burns
  • Pink to red skin with the presence of blisters and/or serous fluid (aka pus)
  • Extremely painful & susceptible to infection as tissue damage has occurred

 

WHAT TO DO:

Get to your Veterinarian but call first! Intravenous fluids, antibiotics and hospitalization may be needed.

Calmly and quickly, first check respiration, pulse and treat for signs of shock. Safely muzzle pet if no breathing difficulties are present as even the gentlest pet could bite when enduring great pain.

Flush gently with or immerse burned areas in cool (NOT ice) water while you are checking on the phone with your Veterinarian for further instructions. Burns can continue to cause damage even after the initial source of the burn has been removed. The flow of cool water reduces temperature below the skin surface to help prevent further damage, but it must be done slowly over a period of time rather than taking quick measures with ice which could lower your pet’s body temperature or add frostbite to the injuries.

Pat dry with a soft cloth (not cotton balls which leave fibers behind).

Bandage loosely (or wrap in a clean sheet but use non-stick pad closest to burn if possible) to keep clean and prevent anything from entering damaged tissue and seek veterinary help immediately.

DO NOT apply any gels, ointments or sprays until seen by a Veterinarian.

If no infection occurs, healing can occur as quickly as 3 weeks.

 

Third Degree Burns

  • Surface of the skin will appear charred, white or leathery and brown (An unpleasant visual, but think black like a charred burger you left on the grill too long; white like a boiled chicken breast. Your pet’s tissue has in fact cooked!)
  • Swelling under the skin or absence of skin.
  • Third degree burns go through all the layers of skin and into the muscle
  • Pain, although sometimes due to the destruction of nerve endings, is not immediately as painful as 2nd degree burns.

WHAT TO DO:

Seek immediate veterinary care but call first!

Intravenous fluids, antibiotics and hospitalization may be needed.

Calmly and quickly, first check respiration, pulse and treat for signs of shock. Safely muzzle if no breathing difficulties are present as an animal in severe pain may bite.

Flush gently with or immerse burned areas in cool (NOT ice) water while you are checking on the phone with your Veterinarian for further instructions. Burns can continue to cause damage even after the initial source of the burn has been removed. The flow of cool water reduces temperature below the skin surface to help prevent further damage but it must be done slowly over a period of time rather than taking quick measures with ice which could lower your pet’s body temperature or add frostbite to the injuries.

Pat dry with a soft cloth (not cotton balls which leave fibers behind).

Bandage (or wrap in a clean sheet but use non-stick pad closest to burn if possible) to keep clean and prevent anything from entering damaged tissue and seek veterinary help immediately.

DO NOT apply any gels, ointments or sprays until seen by a Veterinarian.

During transport to the veterinary facility, monitor the animal for signs of shock.

Chemical Burns

Can exhibit signs of first, second or third degree burns (see previous info) with the addition of a foreign substance (chemical) on the fur or skin.

WHAT TO DO:

Protect yourself first, if you are injured then you are no help to your pet. Put on disposable gloves and use protective eyewear in case the animal shakes or the chemical you are removing splashes into your eyes or on to your skin.

If available, read chemical label for appropriate treatment. Otherwise, flush liquid chemicals from pet’s body with large amounts of room temperature water for at least 10 minutes (water that is too hot may speed up the absorption of the chemical through the skin while water that is too cold can cause hypothermia).

  • If you believe that an animal in your care has been exposed to a chemical agent that may affect their lungs, seek veterinary care immediately.
  • If chemical is oily/greasy, gently massage dish washing liquid into the fur/skin first to dissolve grease before flushing with water. Take care as if the chemical has reached skin, your pet may be sore to the touch.
  • If it is a dry chemical (powdered or granular), brush away or even vacuum out of the animal’s fur if he will allow you to do so safely. Adding water may further activate the chemical so do not flush with water until any dry chemical has been removed. This even applies to laundry soap which is easier to remove in bulk while dry than when it lathers. Lathered soaps may also be strong and burn your

pet’s skin, so brush away first.

  • Seek veterinary assistance immediately if the burn appears to be second or third
  • Bring the chemical container (if possible) with you to the veterinary facility in a zip lock bag or by other safe method of transport.
Electrical Burns

A pet who receives an electric shock may have burns and/or the shock may cause an irregular heartbeat resulting in cardiac arrest. Damage may also occur to the capillaries in the lungs leading to fluid accumulation (pulmonary edema) causing respiratory difficulties or failure.

Do not touch an animal that is/has been electrocuted until the electricity (circuit breaker) is off or the source of electrocution (wires) has been safely moved away with a non-conducive material such as wood or plastic.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES/CAUSES:

  • Place cords in locations inaccessible to pets or unplug when not in use
  • Use outlet covers
  • Cover cords with plastic sleeves or special tubing
  • Teach pets NOT to chew and provide other appropriate chewing activities for teething puppies

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

  • Unconscious
  • Belabored breathing
  • Visible burns or wounds
  • Bite marks on an electrical cord or a burning odor in the room could imply your pet was burned or received a shock

WHAT TO DO:

Immediately check if the animal is breathing and has a pulse.

If the animal is not breathing, administer rescue breathing or CPCR (if heartbeat is also absent) and get to your Veterinarian immediately.

Even if the animal is conscious after electrocution, it is still advisable to seek veterinary attention because even minor electrical shocks can damage blood vessels in the lungs which could cause a slow leak of fluid that can make breathing difficult. It can take anywhere from several hours to a few days before symptoms (shortness of breath, loss of appetite, lethargy) set in. Do not delay veterinary care.

Check the animal for burns to the face or in the mouth, and provide wound treatment.