Pet ownership comes with many ups and downs. One of those downs can be dealing with injuries and wounds. One important thing to keep on hand at all times is a pet first aid kit with necessary materials. Bandages, gauze and an antiseptic cleaning solution are just a few examples.
Betadine is a fantastic item to keep in your pet fit aid kit. It is an over-the-counter topical antiseptic used to treat wounds. Since this may not be a solution that will work for every pup, here are some things to consider when using betadine on dogs.
Since this is an extremely potent antiseptic, you must dilute it with water before applying it to your pets’ skin. Betadine has a dark brown color, and you add water to it until it appears to be the color of iced-tea. If you apply this without diluting it, you will damage the tissue around your dogs’ wound.
Alternatively, some owners may have considered using hydrogen peroxide or even rubbing alcohol to clean wounds. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t as strong as betadine. It can kill the healthy tissue around an injury, increasing healing time. Rubbing alcohol may be useful for smaller cuts. However, it can dry out the skin, which will also slow down healing time.
Next, you must consider the proper application of this product on your dog before using it. Let’s say you are treating your dog for hot spots. Hot spots are a common issue caused by an overpopulation of your dogs’ natural bacteria that grow on their skin. When an infection arises from a dog’s bacteria, it is almost always a root cause of hot spots. Luckily, something like this is easy to treat with betadine.
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. If you are applying this solution on the part of your dog that they’re able to reach, you won’t have to worry about any additional problems if they get a little bit of the solution in their system.
Homemade Foot Soaks For Your Pets
To remedy this obsessive licking, set up a foot soak. For small-breed dogs, you can set up a foot soaking station in your kitchen sink or laundry room drop sink.
At my house, I have a walk-in shower, so I just hose them off in there.
Other possibilities include putting a large plastic tub in your mud room or attached garage. Fill up the tub with water, then add iodine (found at most local pharmacies) until the water solution turns the color of iced tea. Some of my clients with giant breed dogs use a kid’s plastic swimming pool for foot baths, and some clients simply dunk their pets’ feet in a bowl….whatever works!
I recommend povidone iodine or Betadine® solution because it’s naturally antifungal, antiviral, safe, non-stinging, non-toxic, and non-abrasive. It’s a very effective disinfectant for your pet’s paws.
You can either have your dog simply walk through the tub a few times, or stand him in it for about 30 seconds. Then pat the paws dry with a towel.
Another option is to just cover his paws with pads soaked in the water and iodine solution. Keep them on for about two minutes, then remove and pat the paws dry. Research shows that soaking the paws is more effective than “dunking,” so either technique will be more effective than simply using a washcloth to remove contaminants.
They also bathe a lot less than humans. While humans shower once a day, some dogs only get washed once a month or less. The paws build up a pretty good amount of toxins and allergens during this time. This can enhance allergic side effects (licking, chewing, etc.) and irritate paws.
Pets also do not wear protective clothing like we humans do, such as socks and shoes. This means that theyre naked and are exposed to whatever allergens & particles are in their surroundings.
Povidone-iodine is the star of the foot soak technique below. Povidone-iodine is an organic iodine solution, and it is 100% safe and non-toxic for your animals. You can use a veterinary solution or buy it from pretty much any pharmacy or drugstore. Some owners are wary if their dog has white fur/paws that the iodine would stain. But fear not, as long as the solution is adequately diluted, this is not a problem.
Furthermore, the paw pads and nose are the only places dogs sweat. When the paws are damp, they become even more susceptible to picking up particles in their surroundings. But with a simple paw soak, you can ensure clean and allergen-free paws for comfort and health.
Being the primary source of sweating and contact with the outside world, dogs paw pads are like mini Swiffers that pick up whatever they walk on a day-to-day basis. This includes harmful cleaning products, air sprays, pesticides, herbicides, pollen, dust, mold, dust mites, and more.
Dr. Becker’s Comments:
Foot soaks are a great way to disinfect the paws of your dog. I recommend them not just for dogs that have itchy, inflamed, irritated paws, but also for dogs that are exposed to certain contaminants.
In the winter, a major contaminant is salt, which can be very irritating for dogs’ paws. Rinsing his paws off regularly is a great way to keep your pet’s feet decontaminated.
In the summer, on the other hand, it’s important to consider foot soaks because dogs are, of course, naked. They’re not wearing shoes and socks, and the only place your dog sweats (besides the nose), is from the bottom of his feet.
So, in essence, your dog’s feet are like wet Swiffers – they’re bare, they’re moist, and your dog is running through grasses, mud, streams, and leaves. All of these environments can expose your dog’s paws to microscopic allergens, as well as pesticides, herbicides, and other landscaping chemicals.
If you don’t remove these contaminants from their paws, they will usually start to lick them incessantly.
FAQ
How often should I soak my dogs paws in iodine?
How do you clean a dog’s paw with Betadine?
Is iodine safe for dog wounds?